Benzema convinces Mbappe to join Real Madrid
FT Desk
- 19 Apr 2022 14:43 BST
- 3 min read
Karim Benzema has successfully convinced Kylian Mbappe to join Real Madrid this summer, according to Defensa Central.
Mbappe had been having some late doubts over the move due to pressure from his family and his father, who believe he should stay at PSG for two more years before transferring to Madrid.
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But Real Madrid ace Benzema stepped in to convince his friend and France teammate that the Santiago Bernabeu was the right place to be.
The pair have formed a close friendship off the pitch over the last year, since Benzema returned to France duty before Euro 2020.
On the pitch, they forged a devastating partnership as France won the UEFA Nations League at the end of last year.
And Mbappe wants to replicate that partnership at club level.
It is widely believed that Mbappe is set to join Real Madrid this summer on a Bosman transfer when his contract at PSG expires.
The 23-year-old has repeatedly rejected offers of an extension at the Parc des Princes.
Mbappe attempted to push through a €150 million-plus move last summer to Madrid, the club he supported as a kid.
The transfer didn’t go through but it has for some months now been accepted that Mbappe will move to the Santiago Bernabeu at the end of the season for free.
But Mbappe has not yet signed officially for Madrid and there have been reports in recent weeks that PSG could tempt him into extending his contract by offering a world record salary.
Mbappe signed for PSG from Monaco in a €180m deal in 2017, joining the same summer as Neymar, who transferred for a world record €222m.
He has won three Ligue 1 titles during his time at the club, as well as the World Cup for the France national team.
