PSG's Kylian Mbappe set to grace the Whites, Real Madrid deal sealed

Rob Fleming
19 February 2024

Paris Saint-Germain star Kylian Mbappe and Real Madrid have officially inked a deal that will see the French forward don the prestigious white jersey from July 1.

This move sees the end of a protracted courtship that has captivated the footballing world for nearly half a decade.

The agreement, sealed and signed two weeks ago, puts an end to speculations surrounding Mbappe's future, with MARCA confirming the long-anticipated move. The journey, riddled with twists since the summer of 2017, has finally culminated in the player and club realizing their shared aspirations and embarking on a new chapter together.

Recent days saw one of the footballing powerhouses contemplating a last-minute bid for the PSG striker. However, Mbappe's camp swiftly rebuffed any such notions, asserting that the player had firmly committed to Real Madrid.

The pivotal moment occurred last Tuesday when Mbappe met with the PSG president to communicate his decision to part ways with the club on June 30. He explicitly requested no further contract renewal offers, as he had already inked a five-season contract with Real Madrid, a fact long suspected by Parisian insiders.

The conversation transpired amicably, considering that since formally notifying PSG in June of the previous year about forgoing the optional third season in his contract, Nasser Al Khelaifi was aware of diminished chances of convincing Mbappe to stay. By that point, the Qatari executive was more focused on ensuring the star adhered to the summer agreement of forgoing a substantial amount, the third instalment of the loyalty bonus, to reintegrate into the first team.

The negotiation's final chapter adhered meticulously to protocol, both from Real Madrid's end, aiming to avoid any irregularities that could provoke PSG's protests to UEFA and FIFA, and from the player's side, acknowledging the need to mend relations with the Madrid executives and, most importantly, the fans.

In early January, as Mbappe's contract entered its final six months, Real Madrid reached out to the player's representatives to confirm the continuity of the plan established in May of the previous year. The response was affirmative.

Back in January, Jose Angel Sanchez, the negotiator for Real Madrid, set a deadline for resuming discussions by early February. Scarred by the events of 2022, they aimed to conclude and sign the contract at the earliest. The message to Mbappe was clear: while Madrid desired his acquisition, it was no longer an urgent, high-priced pursuit as it was a year and a half earlier. They sought clarity in negotiations and were open to the operation if feasible, without any pressure.

With Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Junior already established among the world's best, Real Madrid, though eager, were in no rush but wanted to determine Mbappe's availability promptly for the 2024/25 La Liga season's planning.