Kylian Mbappe is one step closer to joining Real Madrid after he told PSG’s hierarchy that he’s not going to extend his current deal at Parc des Princes.

mbappe goal psg
Kylian Mbappe celebrates scoring for PSG in the French Ligue 1. (Image: Twitter/PSG_inside)

Last Tuesday, the 22-year-old Mbappe was the man of the match as PSG stunned Bayern Munich in a fantastic 3-2 away win in the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinals. The reenactment of last season’s final, which Bayern won 1-0 in Lisbon, showed that PSG aren’t pushovers, despite the many important players missing from their group due to injury, suspension, or COVID-19. Mbappe stole the show with two goals and added another night to remember to his already impressive collection. The Frenchman was instrumental in PSG’s 4-1 win in Barcelona earlier in the competition, scoring three goals at Camp Nou and, basically, ending Messi’s Champions League adventure for the season.

Although happy with his vital goals, PSG’s bosses became more concerned as “electric” games from Mbappe keep adding to his legend. The 2018 World Champion is out of contract in 2022 and every top performance he posts makes rivals even more aware of the super special player they could get for a cut price. Right after the win in Munich, PSG Sports Director Leonard told Sky in Italy “I think we’ll have some news that will make us all happy soon, but we’ll see.”

Perez’s dream: Mbappe and Haaland together at Real

According to well-informed sources in the Spanish media, talks are all but done between Mbappe and Real Madrid. The outcome isn’t the one PSG would hope to announce, though. Deportes Cuatro claims Mbappe made a firm decision not to extend his contract in Paris. This means he will be made available on a price way below his market value. PSG will sell so they won’t lose him for free in 2022.

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez would like both Mbappe and Norwegian sensation, Erling Haaland, from Dortmund to join this summer, no matter how much those deals might cost. Perez believes this is the perfect moment to restart a new Galacticos era, similar to the one which saw Zidane, Ronaldo, Figo, and Beckham all play together at the Bernabeu in the 2000s.

Mbappe currently earns a staggering $25 million a year after tax at PSG. The Qatari-owned club offered him a new improved contract worth almost $36 million a year. Real Madrid will have to at least match those numbers to get their man.

Mbappe wants out: Real could get him for $180 million

Talking to the Spanish media in 2019, Florentino Perez said “I prefer signing Mbappe for $360 million rather than $210 million without knowing how he’s going to come out.”

Perez was referring to the time when Real pulled out from the competition to sign Mbappe in 2017. He was available for $210 million, a price PSG agreed to pay. To comply with the financial criteria in place, PSG loaned Mbappe from AS Monaco with a form obligation to buy in 2018. Mbappe became a world superstar in no time, and is now regarded, alongside Haaland, as the most probable heir of the Messi and Ronaldo kingdom.

The $360 million Perez was ready to pay is out of the question, as Mbappe is expected to be available for half of that considering his contract situation. The same goes for Haaland, should Dortmund reconsider their position and accept to sell before 2022. One year from now, Haaland’s release clause will go down to $90 million.

Another key factor in Mbappe’s transfer could be his relationship with Real manager Zinedine Zidane. An idol in France after winning the World Cup as a player in 1998, Zidane keeps in contact with Mbappe.

“I know him. We know each other well, but he’s not my player and I can’t say anything. He is great and we’ll see what he wants to do in the future,” Zidane said before Real Madrid’s El Clasico win over Barcelona (2-1) on Sunday.

Mbappe’s former PSG teammate, Jese Rodriguez, also a former Real Madrid player, didn’t make any secret of Kylian’s desire to join the Spanish giants.

Talking to El Partidazo de COPE, Jese said “Mbappe really wants to go to Madrid. He started following Real when he was 16 years old and Cristiano Ronaldo was his idol. He loves Real and I’m sure he’ll play there one day.”

Mbappe is PSG’s lethal weapon against Bayern

Having scored two goals in Munich last week, Mbappe is at +500 to open the scoring at the Parc des Princes on Tuesday evening in the return leg of the Champions League quarterfinals against Bayern. He is at +200 to score anytime during the game. PSG are at -300 for qualification following their 3-2 win in Munich. On the other hand, Bayern is at +300 to overturn the result and make it into the semifinals.

Mbappe’s future is also a matter of great interest for the bookies. His move to Real is at +250, while a transfer to Liverpool is at +700. Manchester City is far away at +2100, with Barcelona and Manchester United at +2600.