How Mbappe's U-turn changed Real Madrid's transfer strategy

Stuart Telford

• 1 Mar 2023 15:28 CST
• 3 min read

Real Madrid missed out on Kylian Mbappe last year, and they plan to bid for Jude Bellingham and Josko Gvardiol in a very different way…

Madrid and Florentino Perez were quite public about their intention to make Mbappe their latest Galactico last year, and preparations had already been made for his unveiling at the Santiago Bernabeu before he had a change in heart.

Mbappe instead signed a three-year extension at PSG which made him the best-paid footballer of all-time before Cristiano Ronaldo joined Al Nassr in January for €200 million a year.

READ: Why Kylian Mbappe to Real Madrid is LIKELY this summer

Real have moved on from that disappointment, securing the signature of Brazilian prodigy Endrick for summer 2024 when he turns 18, by which point Karim Benzema will be ready to pass the torch as Real's first-choice No.9.

But the Mbappe and Endrick transfers were markedly different, with Real being significantly more subtle about the latter's before announcing his deal once it was done.

Bellingham and Gvardiol, silent targets

"The Madrid board of directors, directed by Florentino Perez, is now working in silence to reinforce [Carlo] Ancelotti's squad after the failure to sign Mbappe last season," report Spanish newspaper Sport.

"The main targets for the los Blancos president are the signings of Jude Bellingham from Borussia Dortmund and Josko Gvardiol from RB Leipzig, players who could lift the overall quality at the club."

READ: Real Madrid identify €50m Bellingham alternative

While Real's pursuit of Bellingham has been widely reported, the club have not made an official statement about his pursuit. The same goes for Gvardiol, who has been more firmly linked with a move to Chelsea.

Real Madrid remains one of the most prestigious destinations in world football, but going public with their desire to sign a player no longer seems to make that transfer more likely.

And they are now in the business of making Galacticos instead of buying them anyway.