Ichha Sharma, Pune
French striker Kylian Mbappe has been presented with a potentially life-altering choice by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) and Qatar’s Emir-owned Paris Saint-Germain and Al-Hilal of the Saudi Pro League. Mbappe might move to Al-Hilal for the regal sum of 300 million euros. A 700 million euro contract is apparently available for him should he choose to accept, and while the Saudi club would like a lengthier stay, even a one-year contract would be acceptable. According to reports, PSG has already approved the deal and given the player the go-ahead to speak with the Saudi club.
To understand Mbappe’s transfer story, one must go back to 2021. PSG had previously turned down a 190-million-dollar deal from Real Madrid for the attacker. Mbappe accepted PSG’s contract extension offer at the time. It would be a 24-month agreement with a 12-month extension. The agreement also gave the player unusual powers, such as a voice in who the club might sign or sell. According to L’Equipe, it resulted in the hiring of Lucas Ocampos as PSG’s sports director, as well as Mbappe authorizing the sale of Neymar at one point.
Now that his two-year contract has expired, Mbappe has informed PSG that he will not be renewing it and will instead test free agency in 2024. To PSG, this suggests that Madrid, who had softened their stance on the World Cup-winning team, has been working behind the scenes to get the player to the Spanish city. Madrid’s offer contains monetary value as well. According to The Athletic, 130 million euros would be paid to Mbappe in the absence of a transfer fee.
The offer also puts Mbappe’s commitment not only to PSG but also, strangely, to Real Madrid. Can the Spanish bettors withstand yet another short-term setback? Is Mbappe willing to take an agreement of such magnitude after almost a year of patiently awaiting Madrid just to be offered another huge contract and joining fee? If he goes with Al-Hilal, he’ll almost certainly get the 700 million euros plus the benefits of next year’s free agency bidding war.