Times were running in favor of Real Madrid in the Mbappé case, even more so once it was known that PSG has a hole in its accounts of more than 240 million, due to the loss of income due to the coronavirus, which makes it difficult to renew Neymar and Mbappé himself. There were more signs that gave rise to hope, such as the rudeness of the Parisian star despite the change of coach and the arrival of Pochettino to the bench. But Mbappé has taken a sharp turn to the situation, radical, with his latest statements made on Friday night. “If I renew it will be for a long time,” he said. A clear SOS to Madrid, who suddenly sees how he has to carry out the operation now or Mbappé will escape him once more.
What Mbappé said is more than reasonable and has a very sincere tone: “We spoke with the club to find a project. I am thinking about it because I think that if I sign, it is to be with Paris Saint-Germain in the long term (…). I will always be grateful to the club. But I want to think about what I want do in the next few years, where do I want to be. Yes, a decision will have to be made soon, but I'm in the process of thinking. If I had the answer today, I would have said it today. I don't want to sign a contract and say a year later that I want I left because I did not want to sign the contract. No. If I sign, it is to stay. And that deserves a reflection. “
With this statement, Mbappé is sending a serious message to Real Madrid. He asks you to act fast if you really want to sign him. It is logical that PSG wants to solve the situation as soon as possible. The latest information indicates that Mbappé is already collecting in Paris 21 million net. He has an offer on the table that would equal his emoluments to the 24 net that Neymar charges. For Madrid, it would be impossible to reach that figure.
According to the information that this newspaper has had access to from sources close to the father of the Mbappé himself, the star would be willing to charge less in Madrid, aware that the money from the advertising contracts he would sign in Madrid, with much greater media projection than PSG, would compensate for this difference. On the other hand, he aspires to win important titles and it has already been shown that with PSG he has it difficult. But even in that sense, they tell us, things have changed. Mbappé begins to view with suspicion the Madrid project, which has lost important players in recent times and has not been able to find the solvency signings to make a winning team … Zidane, presumably, will not be next year either.
Signs of hope.
Despite everything, Madrid were being very positive in recent days regarding their strategy of getting Mbappé not to renew. As soon as Pochettino arrived, which was a shock since it transpired that they had promised to retain the star, two decisive events occurred. To begin with, the coach's first game on the bench brought his first disagreement with Mbappé. It was a disappointing draw against Saint Ettiene. “Mbappé has to improve, like everyone else. You will be disappointed that we did not win. But his attitude was good. I'm happy with what he did, “said Pochettino, getting into a little trouble, as his statements did not sit well with Mbappé. It was first a stick when he openly said that he should improve, and then a carrot, praising his attitude. But that kind of event , the previous manager's misunderstandings with Mbappé were one of the reasons why the Parisian club decided to dispense with Tuchel's services.
The second recent event that gave Madrid hope occurred on the last matchday played against Angers. This time PSG won, but Mbappé was substituted in the second half and the star, once again, did not hesitate to stage his anger by leaving the field very slowly and with a serious gesture, almost muttering under his breath. It had not been a good game for Mbappé, PSG's worst classified in the notes provided by L’Equipe after the crash.
In addition, the words of Leonardo, the club's sports director, in his interview with France Football hint at PSG's nervousness. Assured that there is no team that can currently pay Neymar or Mbappé's salary. “Choosing between Neymar or Mbappé for next season? It is true that the situation is very complicated, but if PSG does not have the means right now to be able to keep its two stars, which team has financial means to pay the salary to either of the two players? I think there is no team “, stressed the sports director.
The truth is that Madrid's plan to try to undertake the Mbappé operation next summer remains unshakable. But little by little he is becoming aware that the reduction in income and the credit slab of the stadium greatly reduce his room for maneuver … And Mbappé wants solutions now.