Mbappe takes important step to Real Madrid confirmation

Robin Bairner

• 31 May 2024 14:30 BST
• 4 min read

Kylian Mbappe has taken another step towards confirming that he will join Real Madrid when his PSG contract expires at the end of June.

Mbappe has already made it official that he will depart the Ligue 1 champions as a free agent, but while he is expected to make a move to Real Madrid, nothing has been confirmed on either the player’s side or that of the club.

The hints continue to grow, though, that the potential Ballon d’Or winner will make the switch to the Bernabeu. Indeed, an announcement is expected before the beginning of Euro 2024 in just a couple of weeks.

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Now Mbappe has dropped the biggest hint yet that he will join Real Madrid – by signing a shirt of the Spanish champions outside of France’s training centre at Clairefontaine.

While this may seem like a trivial action, it is in fact a significant step for the 25-year-old France forward, who has previously refused to sign Real Madrid merchandise or even be pictured next to fans wearing any.

During PSG’s Champions League trip to face Real Sociedad in Spain earlier this season, he refused to sign a banner in the colours of Los Blancos. He signed all the other requests presented to him.

This is clearly a significant leap for Mbappe then and confirmation that an announcement is coming.

READ MORE: Mbappe and PSG locked in bitter €80m WAR as Real Madrid signing looms

Griezmann defenders under fire Mbappe

Antoine Griezmann, meanwhile, has come to the defence of Mbappe, whose recent poor form has been the subject of criticism in France.

“How many goals did he score? 44? And he didn’t have a good season? Damn guys…” Griezmann told the press.

“Kylian, no matter what anyone says, he scores. It's not just the stats, I hate when we only talk about that, but still, 44 goals is huge.”

Didier Deschamps, the France head coach, took a similar line of defence.

“You don’t think he’s in good shape? He only scored 44 goals in the season, he could have done better…” he said.

France have friendlies with Luxembourg and Canada before embarking on a Euro 2024 campaign with group matches against Austria, Netherlands and Poland.