According to reports on Thursday afternoon, Kylian Mbappe has informed PSG that he will be leaving the club at the end of the season.
🚨 BREAKING: Kylian Mbappe has communicated decision to leave PSG this summer. Terms yet to be fully agreed. #PSG + 25yo will communicate when finalised in coming months. Will save club €200m per year & they will focus on youth / collective @TheAthleticFChttps://t.co/eCsQoaKeXL
— David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) February 15, 2024
The star forward is regarded as one of if not the best players in the world. Mbappe's club has dominated domestically in his tenure there, but hasn't been able to achieve its main goal — a Champions League title.
PSG defeated Real Sociedad 2-0 in the first leg of their round-of-16 fixture, meaning PSG are likely to advance into the quarterfinals in Mbappe's last season.
For expert analysis on Mbappe and PSG's future, read on below.
Kylian Mbappe Expert Analysis
BJ Cunningham: Mbappe and Real Madrid are like Ross and Rachel from Friends. They’ve been flirting with getting married forever and it’s like “just be together already." It looks like that is going to happen now that Mbappe has formally informed PSG that he is going to leave in the summer. The other two possible transfers that have been mentioned are Liverpool and Arsenal, but it seems unlikely that they are going to break the bank and put themselves in FFP trouble to sign Mbappe.
This move would instantly place Real Madrid among the best teams in the world. They were already trending to that point, especially after signing Jude Bellingham in the summer, but with Mbappe — the best player in the world — they will be up on the mountain top.
The more interesting question is whether Mbappe fits seamlessly with Real Madrid. The easy answer is yes. They’ll figure it out, but Mbappe has historically played on the left for both PSG and the French National Team. He’s sparingly played as a No. 9, which Real Madrid have basically been playing without this season after Carlo Ancelotti switched them to a 3-4-1-2. Vinicius Junior has been one of the better left wingers in the world for a while now, but rumors have been swirling that he could be out the door if Mbappe comes in.
Even though Mbappe is a free transfer, he is going to demand a massive salary, which also could put Real Madrid in FFP trouble.
When Mbappe goes to Real Madrid, they're likely going to be drastically overvalued in the market because of how passive they are out of possession. They’ll be the best transition team in the world, but their passive structure with Mbappe, who doesn’t do much defensive work, will leave them vulnerable to getting upset.
