Opinion: Why Mbappe should join Real Madrid this summer
The French star has informed PSG he does not want to renew his contract past 2024
Here we go again.
For a second straight summer, the fate of where striker Kylian Mbappe will end up being all the talk in bars and on beaches across the world.
Last year, Mbappe had spurned the advances of Real Madrid and decided to stay at Paris Saint-Germain, renewing his contract through the 2024 season with an option for an additional year.
Despite all that, Mbappe could very well end up playing with the Spanish giants by the time the club season starts up again in August.
Following a war-of-words between the 24-year-old striker and the French club, PSG now has a key question it must contend with: Should it sell Mbappe now rather than risk losing him for nothing as a free agent next year?
Should Mbappe stay in Paris for another season, he and the team would be greeted with jeers at every Ligue 1 match (especially at home). In addition, the Mbappe sweepstakes of where he would end up — Manchester City and Bayern Munich also have the kind of money needed to purchase him — would go on for months. This scenario would risk becoming a major distraction during the course of next season. As a result, Mbappe has no choice but to leave now and PSG should help facilitate that move in order to cash in on their investment.
It remains unimaginable from PSG’s view that the club could get nothing for a player they have already spent more than $500 million on since 2017. Last year, the team paid Mbappe a signing bonus of $100 million to seal his new contract.
Mbappe’s reps informed PSG this week that the French star would not be exercising his option to extend his deal by another year, meaning his contract would end in June 2024. Real Madrid, meanwhile, have done nothing to quell speculation that Mbappe could soon join the club he’s wanted to play for since he was a child.
ESPN reported on Tuesday that the Spanish giants are ready to bid for Mbappe now rather than wait to sign him as a free agent. Real Madrid, sources said, are actively looking for a center-forward to replace Karim Benzema, who just last week joined Saudi Arabia's Al Ittihad.
At Madrid, Mbappe would find a team built to win in both Spain and Europe. Managed by Carlo Ancelotti, the star-studded squad reached the semifinals of the Champions League this past season. They recently acquired Jude Bellingham, bolstering a midfield that already features veterans such as Toni Kroos and Luka Modric.
PSG, on the other hand, is bankrolled by Qatari billions but can’t buy a European title like Manchester City just did. Once again, PSG were knocked out early from the Champions League this year. In addition, Lionel Messi announced last week he was leaving Paris for MLS this summer.
Last year, Mbappe finished sixth in the Ballon d'Or voting, far behind Benzema who won the prize. It’s another sign that Mbappe needs to be playing for a winning club. In addition, Mbappe had a great World Cup, finishing as the tournament’s top scorer and only losing the final to Argentina in a shootout, but his season at PSG was average once he returned from Qatar.
Mbappe knows the time is right now to leave Paris. The Frenchman has reached a crossroads. It’s true that Mbappe has put PSG in a pickle. It’s also true that a move to Real Madrid now would benefit both sides.