Real Madrid have now officially confirmed the arrival of Kylian Mbappe on a free transfer, ending a transfer saga years in the making. The France international ended a seven-year spell with PSG, leaving on a free transfer after choosing to not extend his contract last summer.
In 2022, Madrid came incredibly close to signing him for around €200 million, but the player changed his mind and personally called Florentino Perez to tell him that he could not join them at the time, preserving the relationship and delaying the transfer.
Kylian Mbappe officially joins Real Madrid from PSG
Comunicado oficial: Mbappé.#RealMadrid
— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) June 3, 2024
Had Kylian Mbappe accepted the offer made by Real two years ago, he would have been the best paid player in the squad. However, his earnings will now be at par with other top earners in the squad such as Vinicius Jr and Jude Bellingham.
With the move, Mbappe has joined a star-studded line-up, fresh from their 15th Champions League win. Joining the likes of Vinicius Jr and Rodrygo in attack, the France captain is set to form a fearsome offensive trio that could dominate Spain and Europe for the coming decade.
However, we will have to wait a little more to see the 25-year-old in Real Madrid colours. The striker is set to represent France at the Euros in Germany this summer, after which he will join Madrid for their pre-season tour.
It’s likely that Mbappe will play through the middle for Real Madrid, with Vinicius Jr set to retain his place out wide. But considering Carlo Ancelotti’s tactical flexibility and the freedom his players have on the pitch, it’s more likely that we could see a rotational system in attack.
