Kylian Mbappé wants to move to Real Madrid this summer after his contract with Paris Saint-Germain expires, but this does not mean the longest transfer saga in history has come to an end. It has taken nearly three years, some missteps, and a negative statement, but Mbappé seems finally ready to join Real Madrid this summer. This is good news for Real Madrid as they would acquire one of the best players in the world, the top scorer in PSG history, the captain of the French national team, and the second player ever to score a hat-trick in a World Cup final.
Mbappé has pledged to leave on good terms and ensure some financial compensation for PSG. The French star continues to perform remarkably with his team, and he may leave PSG after winning another title with them. Mbappé needs to be clear about his intentions. He has been vague regarding his departure over the past months and consistently evaded questions about his future destination. He confirmed his commitment to PSG until the end of the season and admitted in January that he had an "agreement" with Nasser Al-Khelaifi regarding what could happen at the end of the season, even if he does not sign a new contract with PSG. There is a friendly plan for Mbappé's exit on good terms for the French team.
### Saving Some Money for Real Madrid
Real Madrid is not made of money. While they generate the highest revenues of any club in the world and have been given the largest amount to invest in players at 728 million euros under La Liga's financial regulations, they have also been financially prudent. There have been some costly failures in the past, but in recent years, president Florentino Pérez has been cautious in the transfer market, and to bring in some players, others must leave.
It would not make sense for Luka Modrić to remain at the club for another year, which would save Real Madrid a reasonable amount of 22 million euros from their wage bill. The departures of Lucas Vázquez (9 million euros) and Nacho (8.5 million euros) would also contribute to this. Real Madrid faces a crucial decision regarding the future of Toni Kroos, and even if he stays, it’s likely that Madrid would still have over 30 million euros available to sign Mbappé. However, this would not be enough to meet his full demands, but it would help.
### Mbappé Needs to Make Concessions
Mbappé's contract with PSG is complicated, and its details have not been fully disclosed, although The Athletic reported last summer that the Parisians paid Mbappé 200 million euros in the 2022-23 season alone. Regardless of the total figure, PSG announced that Mbappé's base salary is 72 million euros, and activating other clauses will certainly increase this figure. One of these additional fees is the loyalty bonus that Mbappé received when he renewed his contract with the club in 2022, which guarantees the French forward 80 million euros for every year he stays with the club. This is an exorbitant fee that has never been applied in football history.
It is unknown how PSG will financially compensate for Mbappé's departure, but he will undoubtedly have to waive the additional amount he was set to receive from the club if he wishes to leave. While this fee may not represent a large sum, it would allow PSG to save some money to acquire alternatives.
### Real Madrid's Final Offer!
What will Real Madrid offer a player who turned down a fortune from a Saudi Arabian club? The royal team is unlikely to approach the figure offered by Al Hilal last summer to sign the French star. In all likelihood, they will not even be able to pay Mbappé's current salary and will need to make him the highest-paid player at the club.
There is also the contentious issue of image rights, as Mbappé wanted full control over his brand at PSG two years ago. According to media reports, Real Madrid is keen to provide some attractive perks to entice Mbappé.
### Where Will Mbappé Play at Real Madrid?
This season has been one of Carlo Ancelotti's best as Real Madrid’s coach, as the Madrid team seemed unbalanced at the start of the season, having too many midfielders and not enough genuine forwards. They lost three players to ACL injuries over the past six months, but the Italian coach has built a fantastic team.
Real Madrid plays with four in midfield and can easily switch between formations, such as 4-4-2, 4-2-2-2, and 4-3-1-2. Vinícius Júnior and Rodrygo have become influential forwards, while Bellingham has been the real star of the team, and Mbappé may not fit into the current system.
Mbappé has admitted that he prefers to play as a left-winger or alongside a good center forward. Real Madrid already has a left-winger in Vinícius, and Joselu is not the type of attacking partner that Mbappé envisions. Thus, Ancelotti needs to be careful with Mbappé, as signing him would require sacrifices within a settled team. Will the coach revert to a three-man midfield and keep Rodrygo and Vinícius in the starting lineup, allowing Mbappé to play as a forward? Or will it force Bellingham to take on a deeper role and let Mbappé play on the left while moving Vinícius to a more efficient position?
Ancelotti must be ready to ensure that the Mbappé transfer succeeds without negatively impacting Real Madrid.
