Real Madrid planning HUGE 'last minute' transfer for Mbappe after PSG captaincy snub

23 Aug 2023 19:35 BST
3 min read

Kylian Mbappe’s future at Paris Saint-Germain remains unclear after he was snubbed for the club captaincy by his fellow teammates following a dressing room vote.

Mbappe has been the subject of a turbulent summer since opting against taking up the option to extend his contract beyond next year, which initially prompted PSG’s Qatari owners to demand the 24-year-old be sold this summer.

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However, Mbappe was reintegrated into the squad after PSG’s draw with Lorient in their opening game of the Ligue 1 season, with speculation that the forward may look to sign a new deal with the club.

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Some reports have suggested that Mbappe will announce a decision over his future after PSG’s next game against Lens this weekend but the uncertainty appears to have impacted the World Cup winner’s standing in the dressing room.

Marquinhos was chosen to keep hold of the captain’s armband at PSG, with players anonymously voting to continue with the Brazilian, who is into his tenth year at the club and has led the Parisians since Thiago Silva’s departure in 2020.

Danilo Pereira and Presnel Kimpembe were voted as second and third choices, according to RMC Sport, with Mbappe chosen as fourth despite being the captain of the French national team.

Real set to make their move

Despite PSG accepting a €300 million bid from Al-Hilal in July, Mbappe refused to hold talks with the Saudi side and insisted he would remain at the club to see out his contract, prompting a decision to exile the Frenchman from the first team.

Mbappe had been hoping to join Real Madrid when his contract expires next year but PSG’s determination to sell him this summer complicated matters, with the Spanish side unwilling to splash the cash for a player they believe they can get for free in 2024.

However, optimism is fading over Mbappe’s future being in Madrid, with some reports in Spain suggesting that the La Liga side believe the player will renew his deal at PSG, thus ending any chances of Real moving for him.

But Foot Mercato now state that they believe Real will make a ‘last-minute attack’ for Mbappe before next week’s transfer deadline, with concerns over relying on veteran loanee Joselu as the club’s only striker, despite Los Blancos winning their opening two games in La Liga.

As a result, with Mbappe now open to renewing his contract with PSG, Real could be tempted into an offer before the end of the month, potentially putting an end to a multi-year transfer saga.