PSG star Kylian Mbappe is expected to reject a move to Real Madrid in favour of sticking in Paris, which might give the firm implication that Zinedine Zidane, his boyhood idol, is ready to take over the club.
Kylian Mbappe has allegedly done a stunning U-turn on his dream transfer to Real Madrid and now seems ready to stay in Paris for at least another season, perhaps indicating Zinedine Zidane’s arrival at PSG. After allowing his contract to run down to its final few months, Mbappe, 23, has been linked with a transfer away from Mauricio Pochettino’s star-studded club.
Los Blancos made a proposal for the Frenchmen on Transfer Deadline Day last summer, but PSG halted the deal showcasing their financial muscle over European heavyweights, as they rejected a £137m bid as reported by the Guardian. PSG tumbled apart in the closing 45 minutes of the second leg despite him scoring at both the Parc Des Princes and the Santiago Bernabeu in their Champions League last 16 encounters. The French league leaders were eliminated after conceding three goals in the final quarter phase of the match, prompting rumours that Mbappe could leave at the end of the 2022/23 season.
And, while he has yet to sign a new contract for the Paris-based outfit, recent rumours claim that the World Cup champion is expected to reject Santiago Bernabéu’s transfer in favour of staying at PSG. An outlet in France states that PSG forward is expected to indicate his desire to remain in the next few weeks once the season concludes, according to After Foot RMC.
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The 23-year-old was presumably thought to be one step away from signing a pre-contract deal, and he would eventually move on to the new pastures at the end of the season. While a twist in transfer sagas is a usual process, Mbappe’s dream move to Real Madrid may also have been halted due to frequent managerial uncertainties prevailing in the Spanish Capital outfit.
Pochettino is one of the leading candidates on a five-man shortlist to succeed interim Manchester United manager Ralf Rangnick at the end of the season, which might open the path for Zinedine Zidane to take over the reins at Paris. The leading goal scorer from Ligue 1 holds the former Real Madrid manager in high regard, owing to his childhood love for Los Blancos, which might explain the abrupt u-turn in his decision.
