How Solskjaer could result in Real Madrid losing out on Mbappe

Martin Macdonald

• 22 Nov 2021 17:48 GMT
• 4 min read

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's Manchester United departure could have ramifications for both Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain.

The Norwegian was appointed as Man Utd manager in December of 2018 and has been credited by some sections of the support of improving things on the pitch.

Solskjaer guided the Red Devils to a second place finish in the 2020/21 season, but the team has regressed this campaign despite vast sums spent in the transfer window.

Cristiano Ronaldo, Raphael Varane and Jadon Sancho all arrived in the summer, but the team has not improved.

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A 4-1 loss against Watford in the Premier League proved to be the final straw for Solskjaer, who was sacked the day after.

The two primary candidates to take over at Old Trafford are PSG head coach Mauricio Pochettino and former Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane.

Pochettino is currently working through a campaign with PSG and is working with superstars like Kylian Mbappe, Neymar and of course Lionel Messi.

Zidane apparently has no interest in the job and also doesn't speak English which may prove to be a stumbling block towards an appointment.

How might Solskjaer impact Mbappe?

At the moment, it seems almost inevitable that Mbappe will join Real Madrid either in January for a knockdown fee or in the summer of 2022 as a free agent.

Los Blancos attempted to sign him on deadline day in the summer, reportedly tabling an eye-watering bid of €200m which was rejected by PSG.

Real Madrid president confirmed the news, telling Marca:

“We have to fulfil our objectives and we try to bring in the best players. But you have to be prepared to pay for them. Now, when you offer €200m and they don’t sell them to you…

“When they’re at the end of their contract, it’s better, but at the moment there is a madness in clubs that comes from nation states when they do not sell you their players."

The World Cup winner is a self-confessed Real Madrid fan and idolised Cristiano Ronaldo growing up.

One of his other idols, potentially crucially, is Zidane.

Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo reports that, should Man Utd replace Solskjaer with Pochettino, PSG will then attempt to appoint Zidane.

There are a couple of reasons for this.

As well as Zidane's status as a hugely successful manager, particularly in the Champions League, the French giants believe that his appointment could actually convince Mbappe to sign a new contract at stay in order to have the opportunity to play under one of his heroes.

So far, Mbappe has refused to sign a new deal.