Kylian Mbappe to Real Madrid Transfer News: Timeline, latest analysis

Real Madrid‘s top target in the summer 2021 transfer market will undoubtedly be Kylian Mbappe. The PSG superstar has been linked to Los Blancos for more than a year, and while the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic will make a transfer extremely difficult, Madridistas still have good reason to dream of this deal happening. Because Real truly do seem to be Mbappe’s dream destination.

For months, we have heard El Chiringuito’s Josep Pedrerol bang the drum that Mbappe will join Real. And we’ve heard rumors from around Europe about how Mbappe has rebuffed PSG’s extension attempts.

Here is a recent timeline of events and rumors surrounding Kylian Mbappe to Real Madrid. The most recent updates are on top, and each entry contains links to the original source and some brief analysis on what the news might mean.

We will update this list with the latest information throughout the transfer window until Mbappe either officially signs or the window concludes without a deal.

Let’s get to it.

May 22: The latest update on contract negotiations with PSG

Per Le Parisien, via Hadrien Grenier on Twitter, Kylian Mbappe still wants to give PSG priority while he negotiates with them. But there has been no agreement on the length of the deal, the financial terms, or the transfers that would support the project.

Analysis: While keeping Neymar locked down can only help PSG’s case in convincing Mbappe to stay, the lasting impression of the season will be Mbappe sitting on the bench, watching as Mauricio Pochettino’s side capitulated in the Champions League semifinals without him. Paris is Mbappe’s home, he loves playing with Neymar, and I bet there’s a part of him that wants to make it work. But the onus is on PSG to prove they can deliver – and deliver to a greater extent than Real Madrid can.

May 20: Two important Kylian Mbappe updates

Via Hadrien Grenier on Twitter (tweet one, tweet two), RMC Sport report that Kylian Mbappe will wait until after the Euros to make his decision known. The outlet report that the latest offer on the table from PSG is four years with a similar salary to that of Neymar, who makes over 35 million euros.

Analysis: So I guess Pedrerol is right about this deal taking one to two months if Mbappe is waiting until after the Euros? In all seriousness, a contract offer near Neymar’s salary is not surprising, but it is a serious investment from PSG. It’s one Real Madrid cannot match. But the whole point is that Mbappe would prefer to join Real for the prestige, trophies, responsibility, and fulfillment of a dream, rather than the ridiculous amounts of cash PSG can offer. Including endorsements, he’d still stand to make a whole lot of money in Spain.

May 20: More big statements from El Chiringuito’s Josep Pedrerol

Speaking on his program El Chiringuito, Josep Pedrerol claimed that Real Madrid will sign Kylian Mbappe in one to two months.

Analysis: Pedrerol is really staking his reputation on Mbappe going to Madrid, huh? If he’s right, that means I’ll have at least one month of updating this list. We’ll see how things unfold, but it wouldn’t surprise me if this transfer saga lasts longer. It all depends on what PSG want to do and how “hard to get” they want to play with Real and Liverpool.

May 20: Confirmation of how Zidane’s status could affect a deal?

A day after Sergio Quirante’s tweet, Marco Ruiz wrote for AS that Kylian Mbappe is “totally determined” to play for Los Blancos whether or not Zinedine Zidane is his manager. In other words, Zidane stepping down at the end of the 2020-2021 season would not impede an Mbappe transfer. And given the “totally determined” verbiage, you could also say this is a confirmation of Duro’s statement on El Chiringuito. That said, Ruiz cautions that it all depends on whether or not PSG actually sell him to Real this summer.

Analysis: It looks like, as most of us suspected, the main impediments to a deal are financial and/or PSG’s whims. Mbappe wants Real. And Real obviously want Mbappe. Hopefully, any speculation about Zidane hurting Real’s chances at Mbappe ceases shortly.

May 19: Mbappe’s reported wishes

Speaking on El Chiringuito, Alfredo Duro made a strong statement that Kylian Mbappe has decided his future lies with Real Madrid.

Analysis: There have been a LOT of bold claims made by presenters on El Chiringuito, especially lead man Josep Pedrerol. They are really making it seem like Mbappe to Real is going to be a done deal. If you like getting yourself hyped up for a big transfer, by all means, believe what they are reporting. But the rest of us should be a little skeptical.

May 19: How will Real Madrid’s coaching situation affect Kylian Mbappe

In a report for El Golazo de Gol, Sergio Quirante stated that Zinedine Zidane not being the manager of Real Madrid in 2021-2022 would not impact Kylian Mbappe’s decision to join Los Blancos this summer.

Analysis: Considering the uncertainty regarding Zidane’s future on the bench, this is reassuring news for Madridistas, even if it is unsurprising. Mbappe’s reasons for joining Los Merengues go beyond the manager. He would be making a long-term commitment even if Zidane were confirmed the manager for next season, meaning he’d be committing to Real beyond Zizou’s time with the club. I’m sure Zidane would only help Real’s chances, but the converse – not having him as manager – does not break their chances.

May 18: Kylian Mbappe likes Real Madrid’s (and Liverpool’s) prestige

According to a report from Le Parisien (article in French and behind paywall), via Hadrien Grenier on Twitter, Kylian Mbappe has been “very tempted” by leaving PSG since 2019. Even though he likes his current club, he also likes Real Madrid and Liverpool and is attracted to these clubs because of their prestige.

Analysis: No real surprise here. Real Madrid’s status as the most-followed club in the world has always been pointed out as a key reason for why Mbappe would want a transfer. What may be a little more surprising to some Madridistas is that Liverpool are mentioned in the prestige department, but I think they deserve to be. They’ve struggled this season but are still in line for a top-four finish, and they won the Champions League and Premier League in back-to-back years. That’s pretty damn good.