Kylian Mbappe has reportedly ruled out any possibility of moving to Barcelona in the summer, paving a clear path for Real Madrid to land him.
According to a report by French publication L’Equipe, Kylian Mbappe will likely join only Real Madrid if he leaves Paris Saint-Germain in the summer transfer window. The French international has ruled out the prospect of joining Barcelona ahead of the 2022/23 season.
Kylian Mbappe has established himself as one of the best players in Europe since first rising to prominence in the 2016/17 season. The 23-year-old had inspired the principality club to a shocking Ligue 1 title triumph. And since joining Paris Saint-Germain in 2017, the youngster has come leaps and bounds, becoming a pivotal figure for club and country.
The Frenchman has enjoyed a fantastic 2021/22 campaign, racking up 28 goals and 20 assists in 38 appearances across all competitions thus far. But PSG could lose Mbappe as a free agent in the summer transfer window, with his contract expiring in July. Such a situation has captured the attention of Real Madrid and Barcelona.
Real Madrid tried to sign Mbappe for a near-world-record nine-figure sum last summer, but PSG firmly held on to their prized asset. But with Mbappe yet to commit his long-term future to Les Parisiens, Real Madrid’s interest has grown stronger, with Karim Benzema recently speaking about the prospect of teaming up with his compatriot at the Santiago Bernabeu.
And Mbappe’s arrival could help Real Madrid transform the attacking unit and transform it into the most formidable offensive department in Europe. But the Merengues have bitter rivals Barcelona to fend off in the race to sign the 23-year-old on a Bosman move in the summer transfer window.
Mbappe is one of a few players who can fill the void left by Lionel Messi’s departure last summer. But recent reports claimed that Barcelona’s pursuit of the young attacker cooled quickly, with the player himself uninterested in joining Barcelona in the summer transfer window.
Real Madrid might thus have a clear run at Mbappe, although PSG will desperately attempt to keep hold of the 2018 FIFA World Cup beyond the summer transfer window. For now, what seems certain is that Mbappe will not join Barcelona if he leaves PSG.
