Paris Saint-Germain sporting director Leonardo has slammed the way in which Real Madrid have pursued Kylian Mbappe.
In an interview with French publication L’Equipe, as relayed by Spanish outlet MARCA, Leonardo has been critical of the methods that Real Madrid have employed to secure the services of Kylian Mbappe, with the Paris Saint-Germain sporting director claiming they have shown a lack of respect.
By now, it is an open secret that Real Madrid are eager to secure the services of Kylian Mbappe. The French international was the priority target for Los Blancos in the summer transfer window as well before they ceded their pursuit on deadline day after failing to reach an agreement with Paris Saint-Germain over a transfer.
The Merengues, though, remain hot on the trails of a player who has been nothing short of phenomenal since breaking out in senior level club football nearly half a decade ago. That he has entered the final year of his contract with PSG also bodes well for Real Madrid, who are relishing the prospect of signing Mbappe on a free transfer.
In fact, Mbappe himself opened up about the failed summer transfer to Real Madrid in an interview wherein he made some startling revelations. Now, though, PSG sporting director Leonardo has criticised Real Madrid for the way in which they have made their move for the 22-year-old.
In an interview with L’Equipe (h/t MARCA), Leonardo said, “This is another example of the lack of respect for PSG and for Mbappe.”
“In fact, in the same week a Real Madrid player [Karim Benzema], then the Real Madrid coach [Carlo Ancelotti] and now the president [Florentino Perez] talk about Kylian as if he was already one of their own. I repeat: this is a lack of respect that we cannot tolerate.”
This is not the first time that Leonardo has blasted Real Madrid for their methods in pursuit of the 2018 FIFA World Cup winner, with the PSG sporting director claiming in the summer that their ways were “illegal”. Despite everything, though, it looks like Mbappe could soon be on his way to Real Madrid, with the possibility of signing a new deal with PSG appearing to be rather slim.
