Kylian Mbappe will leave Paris Saint-Germain at the end of the season after seven years with the French champions.
Not many clubs in world football will be able to afford him and also offer him the platform he would want, but there are of course a few, the most obvious of which is Real Madrid.
Madrid already have an embarrassment of attacking riches but they have wanted Mbappe for several years and he would enhance any squad in world football.
What Mbappe has said about Madrid
In 2022, Mbappe signed a contract extension at PSG to put a temporary stop to speculation linking him with Madrid.
Here’s what he said about Madrid at the time…
“First of all I spoke to the president of Real Madrid because I have a lot of respect for him and the club. I think it was important to say it personally that I wasn’t going to go.
“To be a great player [you have] to be honest and everything was great and good because we have a good relationship.
“In the end it was between Real Madrid and PSG. Everyone knows it: last year I wanted to go to Real Madrid. I thought it was a good decision to leave last year, but now it’s different because I’m a free agent, I’m French and I know I’m important to the country, and when you’re important to the country you have to think not only about football, but also your life.
“After my career I will be in France, I will live here with my family and friends. The only thing I can do is thank all the Real Madrid fans, the whole club, because they gave me all the love possible and it was incredible because I’ve never played there. Only 14 years old, for a week, but it is an incredible club.”
On whether it was still his dream to play for Madrid at the time, he added: “I think it’s disrespectful to say that my dream is to play for Real Madrid after signing my contract just a few days ago.
“The dream is fine, but today I am only focused on my new contract, in the present. You never know what can happen… I have a three-year contract, but for the moment I have to focus on my year at PSG.”
🚨🌬️ Kylian Mbappé didn’t mention any detail on his future club to teammates at PSG during today’s speech……but in both Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid dressing rooms, feeling around players is clear: Mbappé will finally join Real in the summer. pic.twitter.com/cDrLAvlu4e
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) February 16, 2024
What Mbappe has said about Arsenal
Although Madrid is the most likely destination for Mbappe, Arsenal have recently been linked with him too.
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Here’s what Mbappe previously said about the Gunners…
On talking to Arsenal when he was at Monaco: “Yes, I met with Arsene Wenger, who is a great coach. He has a great reputation here in France, he’s well-respected and knows how to develop young players. This was a real option for me.
“But, of course, Paris Saint-Germain was the main option. We weighed up the advantages and disadvantages of all the clubs but my family told me it had to be my decision and one I needed to make.
“It also had to be a long-term decision. So it was up to me and I decided to come here in order to develop.”
On following Arsenal when former PSG manager Unai Emery took over: “I do not forget that he helped me adapt to this big team, which was not easy.
“I have a lot of respect for this man even if he did not succeed in Paris. He won titles before and I hope he wins them again after. I sent him a congratulatory message when he signed for Arsenal, and now, I am following from afar.”
🔴⚪️ Would you be interested in Kylian Mbappé even if we already know where he’s going?Arteta: “You know?!”. 😄“When there is a player of that calibre, we always have to be in that conversation, but as you said, it looks in a different way”. 👀🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/531UmNpoVa
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) February 16, 2024
What Mbappe has said about Liverpool
Mbappe has also previously spoken about Liverpool…
In 2020, when Liverpool won their first Premier League: “This season, Liverpool have been a machine in the Premier League. They have made winning look easy but the truth is that it is never easy.
“Performances like they have been having don’t just happen. To be as ruthless as they have been would come from lots of hard work in training and from having a very good manager.”
On talking to Liverpool when he was still at Monaco: “I talked to Liverpool because it’s the favourite club of my mum, my mum loves Liverpool. I don’t know why, you will have to ask her! It’s a good club and we met them five years ago. When I was in Monaco I met them. It’s a big club.”