How Champions League elimination will influence Mbappe's Real Madrid decision
Tom Weber
- 12 Dec 2023 03:25 CST
- 3 min read
With PSG on the brink of group-stage elimination, French media has sought to stress that Kylian Mbappe's future is not tied to the Champions League.
The Frenchman has still not made a decision on his PSG future despite January being only a few weeks away. In the upcoming transfer window, Mbappe will be free to negotiate with any interested club as his contract expires in the summer.
PSG naturally want to tie their star man down, while Real Madrid still want to sign him, especially after steadfastly resisting the temptation to shell out on him during his brief exile in the summer. In recent months, media reports have claimed that Mbappe won't make a decision on a potential move to Real Madrid until the spring of 2024, something that Los Blancos are said to not be happy with as they want to resolve the matter in January.
The crucial issue for Mbappe, according to these reports, would be PSG's performance in the Champions League. If the Parisians were to do well, it would increase their chances of keeping the 24-year-old. Were they to crash out at an early stage, he would depart. Now, however, the tune is changing.
Mbappe future all about 'the project'
Ahead of PSG's potentially season-defining clash with Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League, L'Equipe is stressing that Mbappe's future does not depend on the Ligue 1 side's performance in Europe. Even if they were to crash out in the group stage by failing to beat Dortmund, Mbappe could stay.
The French outlet asserts that it's more about 'the project' than immediate results for Mbappe. If PSG can convince him that they are going in the right direction, the megastar could yet again snub Real Madrid - and this time for good because his French club are trying to tie him down long-term.
The report claims that rather than signing yet another two-year contract, Mbappe could instead pen a lengthy deal with PSG, likely dashing any hopes Real Madrid had of signing him for the foreseeable future, or perhaps forever as Florentino Perez and company will simply move on from him.
There is a feeling that 2024 is the last chance Los Blancos will have of landing Mbappe.
