The ongoing saga involving Kylian Mbappe shows no signs of ending soon. For a while, everyone speculated about the possibility of the striker joining Real Madrid, but unexpectedly, Al-Hilal emerged as a contender to disrupt the transfer market.
Al-Hilal offered a staggering 300 million euros for Mbappe’s rights, an offer reportedly accepted by Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). This amount would have shattered the previous football transfer record set when PSG paid 222 million euros for Neymar in 2017.
Furthermore, Al-Hilal was willing to make Mbappe the highest-paid athlete in history, offering him nearly one billion euros for just one year of service. It appeared to be a win-win scenario: PSG would receive a record transfer fee, Al-Hilal would secure a top football star, and Mbappe would make an incredible fortune while becoming a free agent the following year, potentially joining Real Madrid.
However, Mbappe turned down the offer. He rejected a substantial fixed salary of 200 million euros for the 2023/24 season, coupled with bonuses that could have reached 700 million euros if he relinquished his advertising rights to the Arab club. The striker adamantly refused to negotiate with Al-Hilal.
This leaves three options for Mbappe: staying at PSG, being sold now, or leaving as a free agent next year when his contract expires. The possibility of Real Madrid paying a transfer fee for him this summer remains uncertain, as talks between the clubs are rumored but not confirmed.
As the July 31 deadline approaches, PSG’s president, Nasser Al-Khelaifi, threatened to put Mbappe on the transfer list if he doesn’t extend his contract. If a sale doesn’t happen, he could be relegated to the bench for the upcoming season.
Despite the uncertainty, Mbappe’s decision seems final. As a consequence, he has been excluded from PSG’s squad for their preseason tour in Japan, whereas his younger brother Ethan, who also plays for PSG, is part of the traveling group. Reports about other clubs expressing interest in Mbappe have been refuted, with financial constraints making it unlikely for them to afford the player.
While Chelsea could potentially afford him, no concrete moves have been made by the London club to secure his services. PSG faces a financial crisis if Mbappe leaves as a free agent, making it increasingly probable that he will depart after next season. Questions remain about how this situation will ultimately unfold.
Previously, Mbappe pledged not to leave PSG as a free agent, but it seems he has had a change of heart. His determination to decline the opportunity to earn almost a billion euros in just one year raises eyebrows, leading some to speculate on his intentions towards PSG.
