With his contract set to run down in June, it seemed certain that Kylian Mbappe was on his way to Real Madrid. Several credible sources had mentioned a verbal agreement with the La Liga champions, and everything looked set in place for him to join the Spanish giants. In fact, a wide list of private bookmakers had odds locked on for a move to go through as well. Never say never in football, and the final events left everyone stunned.
Just before PSG’s final Ligue 1 game against Metz at home, news circulated that Mbappe had decided to stay put at the club, much to the disappointment of Real Madrid and even neutral fans. All of the uncertainty was put to bed when PSG posted an official video and announcement, stating that the player had extended his contract by a three-year deal until 2025.
It got Real Madrid so disappointed that La Liga even stepped in with a legal lawsuit on the club’s behalf, claiming PSG had violated the ‘integrity’ of the game. Nothing is expected to come of this, though, especially with the player willingly choosing to stay in Paris.
Mbappe explains the decision behind his contract extension
Mbappe has literally been given all he wants at PSG, and his contract saw financial numbers like never before in the history of the sport. As per Sky Sports, the Frenchman will pocket a sign-on fee in the region of £100m. He will also become the highest-paid player in the world, with a weekly wage of £1m, a figure that more than doubles his current salary.
It was even more surprising that he was given a role in the club’s running affairs, meaning he also has a say on stuff like transfers, coaching personnel and decisions within the club.
Many think the player has remained at PSG simply because of money, but he was quick to dismiss those thoughts, saying it was his ambition that kept him at the club.
“I am convinced that here I can continue to grow within a club that gives itself all the means to perform. I am very happy to be able to continue to evolve in France, the country where I was born, grew up, and flourished,” Mbappe said.
In hindsight, it does make sense that Mbappe decided to stay where he was offered lots of money and where he was already comfortable and an icon, even at 23. However, it remains to be seen how that decision will impact the overall growth of his career. Only time will tell.
For now, Mbappe can only aim to write another chapter at PSG, where he has already set and broken numerous records. Next on his list will be to upstage Edinson Cavani as the top scorer in the club’s history, with the Uruguayan scoring 200 goals in a prolific time at the club.
Already at 171 goals for PSG and with the peak of his potential still ahead of him, Mbappe needs only 30 more goals to break that record, and you can back him to achieve that feat next season, given his scoring rate over recent years. Some of the newest betting sites of this month offer odds up to 1.31 at the moment.
By :
Steven D. Thompson
