- 17 Apr 2024
Mbappe to Real Madrid? It won’t be easy – Calderon
Robin Bairner
- Updated: 17 May 2021 22:35 BST
- 2 min read
Former Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon has cast doubt over the club’s ability to sign Kylian Mbappe from Paris Saint-Germain next summer.
Mbappe’s contract is up in Paris in 2022, and with no renewal on the horizon, the Champions League runners-up may be forced to sell him in the summer to ensure he does not depart on a free transfer.
Madrid have been linked with the young forward for years. Before he made his breakthrough at Monaco, he visited the club, and then after his explosion onto the first-team scene they again sought to sign him only for PSG to get there first.
Mbappe has made known his appreciation of the Bernabeu club, which has strengthened links, but Calderon thinks that generating funds to sign him will prove problematic, especially as the club have begun work on renovating their ground.
“Madrid has made a huge financial commitment with the work of the Bernabeu,” he told Calciomercato. “I believe that their expenditure will approach €1 billion.
“It’s a big burden and it won’t be easy to make any big signing on the transfer market.”
Calderon backs Zidane
Meanwhile, ahead of Madrid’s Champions League meeting with Inter, he offered his backing to head coach Zinedine Zidane, who has come under pressure following an indifferent start in Europe.
Los Blancos sit on one point after two games, having suffered a shock 3-2 loss at home to Shakhtar Donetsk before fighting back to salvage a 2-2 draw against Borussia Monchengladbach.
“The problem with Real Madrid is that winning has always been an obligation,” he said. “If that doesn’t happen, the coach is immediately questioned but Zidane deserves trust and respect for what he’s achieve, and the stability that he has brought to the squad. For me, he must remain.”
Visiting boss Antonio Conte has said he has been approached over the Real Madrid job in the past, and along with Massimiliano Allegri, who is out of contract and has also been linked with PSG, could be a potential successor to ‘Zizou’.
“It’s too early to tell, but they are both great coaches, capable of running any top club. Including Real Madrid,” he said.
If Madrid are struggling in Europe, they are going well in La Liga, sitting second behind Real Sociedad but with a game in hand, having won five of seven matches.
