Mbappe to Real Madrid would create FOUR problems
Robin Bairner
- 18 Nov 2023 02:55 CST
- 3 min read
Real Madrid have been warned that signing Kylian Mbappe would cause them four potential problems.
Mbappe continues to be hotly linked with a move to the Bernabeu at the end of his PSG contract, which expires in June 2024, at which point he will become a free agent.
For the moment, though, the links are cooling off, with an increased confidence in France that the player who finished third in the Ballon d’Or this year will remain at PSG.
This is backed up by AS, which notes that Real Madrid are aware that signing Mbappe would come at a cost that could create numerous problems in the squad.
MORE: Real Madrid refuse to let Kylian Mbappe EMBARRASS them again
Real Madrid’s Mbappe fears
Firstly, there is the problem that Mbappe’s arrival would shatter the salary scale at the Bernabeu. He is likely to cost around €35 million a year in terms of net wages, which would be more like €70m gross.
This would make the 24-year-old France international star by far the best-paid player at the club. No one else on their books earns more than €11m, which David Alaba and Toni Kroos the biggest earners at €10.8m and €10.7m respectively.
The second issue flagged is that Mbappe would step on the toes of Vinicius Junior, with both preferring to play off the left wing. Although Kylian could replace the departed Karim Benzema in the No.9 role, this is unlikely to be where he wants to play in the long term.
There is also the fear that signing Mbappe would effectively end the club’s chances of signing Erling Haaland from Manchester City – a player that critics have argued is a better fit for the Bernabeu side as his profile is one that is missed in the squad. The cost of signing Mbappe, between his wages and bonus payments, would prevent making this a realistic move.
Finally, it would also lead to a possible legal battle with PSG following the unexpected publication of a statement from Real Madrid indicating that they have not held talks with Mbappe ahead of 1 January. Such an action shows that the Ligue 1 side are clearly suspicious of Los Blancos tapping their player up and could force the issue to be decided by the courts – an issue that the club could do without.
