The mouth-watering trident of Mbappe, Neymar and Messi is looking likelier to happen on PlayStation than on the pitch, with Mbappe looking to leave PSG.
Nothing is ever straightforward with Florentino Perez. The Real Madrid president has always had an eye for the glamorous and the spectacular. It was under his first tenure that the word 'galactico' became a thing in football.
His history is littered with the purchase of big-name players, from the sensational capture of Luis Figo from FC Barcelona to Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo, David Beckham, Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Perez has been quiet in the market since the failed experiment of Eden Hazard. His silence could be likened to the calm before the storm. Over the years, he has raised a war chest, big enough to make a charge for another galactico, and Mbappe is the player he has coveted over the years. It seems his quest to bring the 22-year-old World Cup winner to the Santiago Bernabeu is about to become a reality.
Real Madrid up their bid for Mbappe
For a while, Real Madrid have been shadow boxing and dancing around the Mbappe subject. They maintained a respectful distance from PSG to avoid allegations of tapping up their player. Following the failed contract renewal discussions between PSG and Mbappe, it dawned on the Parisian club that Mbappe wanted to leave.
The failed discussions emboldened Real Madrid, knowing PSG had to discuss with them or lose the player for free next summer. Mbappe leaving PSG for free would cause as many shockwaves across world football as Messi leaving Barcelona.
Real Madrid, earlier this week, reportedly submitted an offer of €160 million for Kylian Mbappe. PSG rebuffed the bid, claiming it didn't represent the value of their player.
According to Fabrizio Romano, Los Blancos returned with an improved offer of €170 million with a €10 million add on bonus.
PSG have not turned down this new offer. RMC Sport, however, reports PSG opened discussions with Real Madrid for the first time on Thursday.
PSG backed into a corner
On Wednesday, Leonardo had talked tough about Mbappe. The club still hoped to keep the player who emerged as the youngest player to score in a World Cup final since Pele. Leonardo claimed the club will not stand in Mbappe's way if he wanted to leave but would do so only under their terms.
The club chairman backed him, saying their stance remains the same. With an improved offer by Real Madrid, it is now likely that PSG have no choice but to discuss the imminent transfer.
Mbappe's departure will end the dreams of seeing the trio of Mbappe, Neymar and Messi together on the pitch.
By :
Steven D. Thompson
