The major 'dealbreaker' that puts Mbappe to Real Madrid in danger

Tom Weber

• Updated: 23 Jan 2024 15:52 GMT
• 3 min read

Kylian Mbappe wants to play at both the Euros and the Olympics in the summer and this could threaten his next move, according to a report.

2024 will be a big year for international football. Germany will host Euro 2024 and Paris will host the Summer Olympics. PSG and France star Kylian Mbappe wants to be part of both tournaments, particularly the Olympics in his hometown.

This is according to journalist Ben Jacobs, who reports that this seemingly innocuous desire on the part of Mbappe could prove a major dealbreaker regarding his club future. The 25-year-old is out of contract in the summer and PSG are naturally trying to keep him, while Real Madrid are hoping to finally get their hands on him after a two-year transfer saga.

However, only PSG have so far affirmed that they will allow the attacker to feature at both tournaments, claims Jacobs in his CaughtOffside column. Real Madrid have not yet given any indication that they would be open to grant his wish, which would see him miss pretty much all of pre-season.

Mbappe's dealbreaker

However, to Mbappe, participation at the Olympics in Paris is non-negotiable and he views the refusal to accede to his demands as a potential dealbreaker.

Real Madrid are said to be reluctant to grant this wish because, if they were to sign him to a pre-contract agreement now or as a free agent early in the summer, they would have to cover his salary during that period of up to three months he will be absent, potentially amounting to €70 million.

Yet this doesn't mean that Mbappe to Real Madrid is necessarily off because of the Olympics. Jacob posits an interesting workaround, claiming that "those close to Mbappe are not ruling out free agency." This would see the Frenchman remain clubless until after the completion of his international duties.