Real Madrid didn’t sign Kylian Mbappe, but their failure will not be in vain

Real Madrid waited for months – years, honestly – before they truly decided to pursue PSG superstar Kylian Mbappe. And although they came up short in the end, which is probably because PSG never intended to sell him at any price anyway, their last-second effort on deadline day will not go in vain.

Going after one of the best players in the world is an entirely different transfer chase than what most fans are used to. And the dynamics change further when dealing with a club like PSG, who are so powerful in terms of their financial and political capabilities that they are essentially above the rules – written and unwritten.

Florentino Perez knew that because Mbappe wanted to leave and because his contract is running out, he had an outside chance at signing the most valuable player in the world this summer. Yet the president, having hired Carlo Ancelotti as a stopgap manager, also knew that this chance was minuscule. Almost zero. No matter what Jose Felix Diaz and Josep Pedrerol may have been fed behind the scenes, this deal was always going to be exceedingly complicated. Every fan knew that before the window started.

So Real Madrid didn’t get their man, yes. It is a heartbreaking event not only for Madridistas, but also for Mbappe, who thought the club of his hometown would give him a send-off after he so respectfully engaged with them. And now he faces the wrath of the fans with the choice to either leave for free, hurting the club financially, or lock himself into a deal that may hold him back professionally and even emotionally. His heart seems set on Real Madrid.

Real Madrid showed they value Kylian Mbappe more than anything else

And I bring up Mbappe’s emotions and difficult situation after this deal failed to go through, because this is precisely where Real Madrid have gained an advantage that cannot be underestimated as PSG continue to send Mbappe record-breaking contract offer after record-breaking contract offer.

By offering in excess of 200 million euros to PSG on deadline day despite the fact that the player has one year left on his contract, Real Madrid have shown that they want Mbappe more than anything else in the world. To them, Mbappe is worth any price, and they showed it. Not only that, but they passed up on backup options. They could have used that money to reunite with Cristiano Ronaldo, sign a center back, snag Houssem Aouar, or bring in someone like Richarlison.

Instead, they showed they were willing to spend it all on Mbappe. They were willing to do anything to make Mbappe’s wish come true and showed the young man just how much he means to them. If he had any doubts that Real Madrid, the club of his childhood dreams, wanted to make him the center of their project, all those doubts were erased by just how desperately they pursued him. Real wanted to leave nothing to chance.

Meanwhile, PSG did everything they could to upset Mbappe. Leonardo and Nasser Al-Khelaifi made bizarre statements and veiled threats. They said Mbappe would never leave for free, only to reject the outlandish final offer from Real Madrid. And thus, they are implying that they own Mbappe. That he must re-sign with them or he cannot leave for free. That they do not value his free will, nor have they listened to his concerns. Furthermore, with Lionel Messi joining the squad, Mbappe is very clearly not THE center of the project. He has been made to feel like the young third wheel of an aging attack.

Real Madrid have the leg-up now. Mbappe can see how PSG and Real have acted these past few weeks and know which club values him more. Turning down the lucrative offers and dealing with the pressure of the fans won’t be easy in the slightest, but Real did oh-so-well to plant an important seed in their relentless pursuit of the superstar forward. They did their part. They did everything they could. And I think when it comes down to it, that’s what Mbappe will remember. Because that’s what counts. Everyone, even superstar athletes worth hundreds of millions of euros, wants to feel appreciated.