With one year left on his deal, PSG faced the problematic issue of whether to sell Mbappé this year or enjoy his qualities for one season more before inevitably losing him next summer for nothing to Real Madrid.
Mbappé is PSG’s top scorer of all-time and his potential transfer represents a real loss for them. It is Mbappé, his departure would leave a real hole in any side. Yet with him seemingly departing and Lionel Messi gone, the attacking burden is on Neymar’s shoulders who will have to really step up and carry this PSG side.
PSG’s decision has now been made. They have decided to sell Mbappé and excluded him from first-team training in their training camp in Japan. Understandably, several of Europe’s top clubs are interested, including Real Madrid, Barcelona and Manchester United, yet the financial demands of both PSG and the French striker are significant, to say the least.
However, one team has stepped forward and made an unprecedented offer in the history of football. Al-Hilal of Saudi Arabia has bid €300m for the Frenchman. Yes, you read that correctly. THREE HUNDRED MILLION EUROS.
Evidently, PSG are delighted with the offer and have duly accepted it, leaving the move in Mbappé’s hands. It has been rumoured that the budding great will be offered a package of, wait for it, €700m for one season. A figure greater than LeBron James’ 20-year career earnings in the NBA. An astronomical number which would amount to more than the top 17 highest players in the NBA combined! It’s even bigger than the annual defence budget of some small countries.
It has got the whole world talking, and sports commentators and players have chipped in to give their opinions on the potential move. NBA All-Star and former MVP Giannis Antetokoumpo comically tweeted that Al-Hilal should sign him as he looks similar enough to Kylian Mbappé.
What would Mbappé bring to Al-Hilal and the Saudi Pro League?
Mbappé is arguably the best player in the world, and him coming to the Saudi Pro League would mark a real changing of the guard moment in football. Whilst top players like Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema ply their trade in this league, the players who come to Saudi League tend to be coming to the end of their careers, bar a few exceptions such as Ruben Neves. Yet, Mbappé is just hitting his prime and fans worldwide want to watch the supremely talented Frenchman. The viewership and commercial opportunities of the league would expand enormously and could lay the foundations for more young players to make the cross-continent move to Saudi Arabia.
The decision remains in Mbappé’s hands. After all, he could always play one year in Saudi Arabia and make his dream move to Real Madrid in 2024. Seemingly, however, Mbappé values sporting integrity and competitiveness and is adamant that it is Real Madrid or nothing. It is going to be fascinating to see what he decides to do.
Tweet us at @365Scores and @NickyH3lfgott to share your opinions on the saga.
By Nicky Helfgott / @NickyH3lfgott on Twitter
