Mbappe & Anfield: The Wish That Won’t Come True

For Paris Saint-Germain fans, and football lovers in general, the July 1 opening of Ligue Un’s transfer window is going to be a date to remember. With the striker’s contract set to lapse, Kylian Mbappe’s future is up in the air.

 
So far, rumors have circled that Real Madrid has offered a promising contract for the star, while other publications have focused on Anfield’s attempts to woo the player and PSG’s frantic efforts to find a way to keep him on their roster. Regardless of how reliable these rumors are, it seems Mbappe’s future will rest beyond Ligue Un.

While fans at Real Madrid, Liverpool, Barcelona, and other rumored clubs have opened their arms to the possibility of finding Mbappe on their side, front office executives will need to frame a perfect offer. With the World Cup approaching at the end of 2022, considerations like fixture congestion in association football will be at the forefront.

 
Already, European leagues struggle with packed schedules. While fans are looking for quality play, coaches and players contend with long-distance matches, jetlag, and UEFA competitions creating a demanding, non-stop schedule for most of the year. In other words, it’s unlikely Mbappe will follow the money alone when considering his future—he also needs to hammer down which club and culture are worth dedicating himself to.

Unfortunately for Liverpool fans, it seems Mbappe will sign on with La Liga’s Real Madrid this summer.

PSG Hasn’t Given Up
Mbappe’s future has been a hot topic in Paris. While fans of Los Blancos are looking at the striker to help solve critical problems that have arisen in the last two years, local PSG fans are also letting their voices be heard—and even local politicians have called on Mbappe to stick with his roots.

The Mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, spoke about Mbappe’s influence on local culture and youth, then asked him to stay with the Ligue Un side. Even the French President, Emmanuel Macron, has made comments that outline his hope for Mbappe’s future with PSG.

 
Meanwhile, front office execs with Paris Saint-Germain have been pulling out all the stops when it comes to building an offer he can’t refuse. Still, it looks like not even becoming football’s highest-paid star (earning nearly 1 million Euros a week) will convince Mbappe to stay in Paris.

Real Madrid Closing In
Aside from a highly motivated PSG, Liverpool’s interest in Mbappe is also being elbowed out by Real Madrid. One of the biggest challenges for Anfield is the fact that Mbappe is a long-time fan of Real Madrid—some even believe the striker turned down a chance to play at Barcelona in 2017 due to his loyalty.

For the last two years, Madrid has also mentioned Mbappe’s impending contract end, making no mistake about their interest. But Mbappe himself has remained tight-lipped about the offers extended from Madrid. He’s remained conservative in interviews and hasn’t wavered from his dedication to PSG—but this is expected to change in the coming months.

In fact, some believe the announcement about Mbappe’s transfer to Madrid is imminent. Publication ‘Goal’ reported in late February that Real Madrid already had a plan on when and how to announce the striker’s arrival.