Real Madrid are optimistic about the transfer-free move of Kylian Mbappe, according to transfer market expert Fabrizio Romano. The conversations in recent days, in which the portrait rights of the 23-year-old attacker of Paris Saint-Germain were also discussed, are the Royal experienced as ‘very positive’. Mbappe was voted Ligue 1 Player of the Year on Sunday and admitted at the gala that he’s ‘virtually’ made up his mind about his future.
“It will be known very soon, it is almost finished. My decision is made,” said Mbappe at the annual gala, where he was named the best player in Ligue 1 for the third consecutive season. The Frenchman then explained why he is taking a long time to announce his choices. “You have to respect all parties. I know people expected a lot from me. That is normal. I’m in a hurry too. But it’s not just about me. My choice has now been made, there are only a few details that need to be discussed.”
In recent weeks, sports newspapers in France and Spain have been full of Mbappé’s future. Le Parisien recently reported that he had decided at the very last minute to extend his expiring contract with PSG: he would sign for a net annual salary of 50 million euros per season and a net signing premium of 100 million euros for two seasons. His mother Fayza Lamari then denied via Twitter that there was an agreement in principle with PSG or another club. “Talks about Kylian’s future continue in great serenity to enable him to make the best choice, while respecting all parties,” it said.
The quality newspaper El Pais recently wrote that in March, after reaching the quarterfinals of the Champions League at the expense of PSG, Real Madrid made a fourth and final attempt to sign Mbappe: a signing bonus of 180 million euros, a net salary of 40 million euros and 50 percent of the income from his portrait rights. Where his business advisers believed they saw ‘the most generous proposal in football history’, Mbappé was unimpressed. He couldn’t agree with giving up half of the income from his portrait rights, a common practice at Real under the rule of Florentino Perez since the year 2000. Mbappe was so disappointed that he suddenly considered a contract extension with PSG again.
Mbappe’s business advisers calculated that the attacker would lose out financially if he had to give up half of that income. After all, the Frenchman earns tens of millions of euros every year with his attraction to brands such as EA Sports, Nike and Hublot. In addition, the Mbappe camp was surprised by Real’s demand, because the Spanish club had never said anything about surrendering the funds during talks in the past two years. In the first week of April, Mbappe went public and said he had not yet made a decision on his future, as there were “new circumstances” to take into account. He didn’t want to go into detail, but according to El Pais that ruling concerned the bad news about the portrait rights. According to Romano, Real and Mbappé have now ironed out the last folds regarding the portrait rights of the attacker.