As usual, conversations surrounding PSG this season have primarily centered on Kylian Mbappe and his future with the club.
This speculation reached its peak during the recent January transfer window when it became evident that Mbappe would not extend his current contract beyond the season’s end.
Except for Jurgen Klopp’s surprising announcement, January saw minimal activity, leading much of the transfer buzz to focus on Mbappe and his potential post-PSG destination.
Would he head to Liverpool as Mohamed Salah’s replacement? Or to Manchester United as Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s inaugural high-priced signing? The answer was a resounding no.
After rejecting offers from the Saudi Pro League, Real Madrid emerged as Mbappe’s inevitable next stop, a destination anticipated since his arrival at PSG in 2017.
The only mildly surprising aspect of Mbappe’s impending move to the La Liga giants is that it didn’t materialize sooner, considering it’s now his seventh season with PSG.
Long regarded as Lionel Messi’s successor, it’s been widely believed throughout Mbappe’s tenure at PSG that a move to Real Madrid (or FC Barcelona) is essential for him to solidify his status as a global superstar and a future recipient of multiple Ballon d’Or awards.
While Mbappe’s potential as an all-time great is unquestionable, public opinion of him has been somewhat tarnished by his prolonged and financially lucrative stint at PSG.
Once eager to dominate their rivals and ascend to the pinnacle of world football, PSG was willing to go to great lengths to retain Mbappe, reportedly even granting him influence over club policy decisions as part of his revised contract in 2022.
In their efforts to keep Mbappe, PSG was prepared to agree to an unprecedented deal, one that blurred the lines between the board and the players, ultimately undermining the current manager and the rest of the squad, all to retain Mbappe for just two more years. It’s been a debacle of monumental proportions.
