Real Madrid fans may be getting nervous about Kylian Mbappe‘s impending transfer. While the club seems to be remaining calm and most fans are following suit, the rumors of a renewal with PSG have been heating up since Real’s loss in the first leg of the Champions League Round of 16 at the Parc des Princes.
Mbappe’s desire to leave PSG for Real has not been broken, and his reasons for wanting the transfer do not hinge on a single Champions League tie. They do, however, rest on his desire to be the star of a top sporting project, which is what the Parisians are trying to convince him of – and desperately so.
Of course, the prestige of being “the guy” at Real Madrid, as Mbappe’s idol Cristiano Ronaldo was, is a different level entirely. It is something PSG cannot offer, though they have all the millions in the world, thanks to their backing from Qatar.
PSG continue to do their best to convince Mbappe, though, and their latest approach has focused on proving to Kylian that he is the star of the show – not Neymar or Lionel Messi. As we are seeing on the pitch throughout this season, including in the Round of 16, Mbappe is very much that in terms of performance.
Mbappe may see playing on the right side as a sign of not being the priority
RMC Sports’ Loic Tanzi, who is one of the most credible reporters covering PSG and the Mbappe transfer saga, wrote something very interesting in a recent update. He says that because Mbappe was asked to play on the right wing at the end of the match against Madrid in order to accommodate both Messi and Neymar, it is a sign that he is still seen as third to those two superstars in the hierarchy. Messi got to play through the middle and Ney on the left.
Although I don’t actually read into this too much, considering Mbappe has been the main striker this season and did score his goal against Real after popping up on the left, I do think it is worth keeping in mind as a Madridista for a more troubling reason.
Vinicius Jr. is the man on the left wing in Madrid. That is by far his best position. He cannot start on the right side and be as effective. So Mbappe would have to play on the right side in order to fit in with Vini.
Mbappe could very well be fine with that, especially if he is also fine with playing through the middle after Karim Benzema goes. But if Erling Haaland is signed? How would that work?
Now, Mbappe may be willing to make some sacrifices in order to play with that trio for a decade, and Real Madrid could give him other concessions to prove he is the main star – such as penalties, free kicks, and other things mentioned in the same article by Tanzi.
However, the left vs. right question must be in the minds of Madridistas. Mbappe is a left winger who cuts inside on his right, just like Ronaldo…and just like current Real Madrid superstar Vini Jr. As they say, watch this space.