French international forward Kylian Mbappé of Paris Saint-Germain reacted in a controversial manner when asked by a Spanish reporter about the possibility of joining Real Madrid at the end of his contract next summer. Mbappé was present at the "France Football" magazine ceremony to present the Ballon d'Or for the best player in the world for 2023; however, he did not win the prestigious award, finishing third behind his former PSG teammate, Argentine Lionel Messi, who won the award for the eighth time in his career, and Norwegian Erling Haaland of Manchester City, who came second.
As he was leaving the ceremony, renowned Spanish program "El Chiringuito" reporter José Álvarez asked Mbappé about the potential transfer to Real Madrid next summer. The French forward turned towards the reporter, smiled, winked, and changed his facial expression.
"El Chiringuito" interpreted Mbappé's reaction as a sign of his possible transfer to Real Madrid. The 24-year-old forward has been heavily linked with a move to Real in recent years, having been close to transferring to the royal club in the summer of 2022 before surprising everyone by extending his contract with Paris Saint-Germain.
Mbappé's current contract with Paris Saint-Germain ends next summer, and he has refused to trigger an extension option until 2025. Several reports have indicated that Mbappé might sign "for free" with Real Madrid in January as a precursor to joining the team during the summer transfer window of 2024.
