In a move that has been the subject of speculation for years, French striker Kylian Mbappé has officially informed Paris Saint-Germain of his decision to join Real Madrid when his contract concludes at the end of this season. Although the deal is yet to be formally signed, sources close to the 25-year-old sensation, as reported by Le Parisien, affirm that he has chosen to emulate one of his childhood idols, Cristiano Ronaldo.
In contrast to his idol, Mbappé has already achieved a remarkable feat by securing a FIFA World Cup title. Notably, in the last outing against Argentina, he nearly defended the crown single-handedly, scoring four goals in the final. Real Madrid, already boasting a roster of superstars including veterans Luka Modrić and Toni Kroos, goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, as well as rising talents Jude Bellingham, Vinícius Júnior, Aurélien Tchouaméni, and Eduardo Camavinga, is set to welcome Mbappé into its illustrious fold.
The addition of Mbappé to an already star-studded lineup raises anticipation that Real Madrid may rekindle the “Galácticos” moniker, initially coined by club president Florentino Perez during the era of acquiring legends like (the OG) Ronaldo, David Beckham, Raul, and Zinedine Zidane, among others.
ESPN reports reveal that Mbappé declined PSG’s substantial pay raise offer of €72 million EUR ($77.8 million USD), which included approximately $100 million USD in bonuses, opting instead for a move to Madrid, where he will receive half of that amount. It is evident that Mbappé prioritizes the pursuit of silverware over financial incentives, aligning his aspirations with the 14-time UEFA Champions League winners.
