PSG’s two ‘UNEXPECTED’ Mbappe steps as Real Madrid close in
Robin Bairner
- Updated: 2 Aug 2023 09:40 BST
- 3 min read
PSG have taken two “unexpected” steps in their ongoing battle with Kylian Mbappe, according to a respected French journalist.
The Ligue 1 champions are presently in a dispute with the 24-year-old Mbappe, who has been frozen out of their tour of Japan and South Korea due to his refusal to take out a one-season option on his current contract.
As such, he will become a free agent in 2024, with reports stating that PSG believe that he has already agreed to move to Real Madrid at his point.
MORE: Barcelona offer €90m WONDERKID to PSG in Mbappe swap deal attempt
The relationship between Mbappe and PSG has totally broken down and there is the prospect of him sitting the season out in the stands if he is not sold.
PSG are pushing for a transfer but Mbappe is eager to stay put in order to land sizeable bonuses.
MORE: Kylian Mbappe drops Real Madrid transfer hint on Instagram
Speaking to Cadena SER, journalist Thibaud Leplat explained that “they have done two things that we thought they were going to be incapable of doing”.
Firstly, the RMC journalist explained that Mbappe had not expected to be left out of the preseason tour, while PSG’s decision to withhold the player’s €40 million loyalty bonus was also a step that came as a major surprise – and one that will doubtless leave the camp of the France superstar furious.
Mbappe to Real Madrid inevitable
Leplat sees Mbappe going to Real Madrid as an inevitable consequence of this battle.
“I think there is no other way out, that the player leaves PSG and that he does so for Real Madrid. There are no other options,” he said.
“The other scenario is that Mbappe stays one more year with PSG, but I think it is impossible after the position taken by the French club. It is an option that fades as the days go by. The big question is how soon the operation will be completed. That's the only thing left to decide.”
Mbappe’s deadline to be reunited with the PSG squad is 12 August – the opening day of the Ligue 1 season, but the prospect of that is fading by the moment.
