As soon as the bells have rung to bring in the New Year, Real Madrid, champagne glass in hand, will put the wheels in motion to sign Kylian Mbappé from Paris Saint-Germain. One of the longest-running transfer sagas in history will end one way or another in 2024 and the LaLiga giants will make it clear they want their long-term target. The France captain, out of contract on June 30, will be free to speak to other clubs and agree a summer transfer as of midnight on January 1. After so much speculation, does Mbappé actually want to join Los Blancos? The ball is in his court and we’ll find out soon enough.
Erling Haaland – Real Madrid’s Plan B
The clock, however, will be ticking. Madrid has been burnt by the Frenchman before and has no intention of being burnt again. They will set a deadline of January 15 for Mbappé to decide. If a move hasn’t been agreed, they will switch to Plan B – Manchester City striker Erling Haaland.
The roadmap to signing Mbappé is simple. Starting at midnight, Madrid will be permitted to negotiate with Mbappé, provided they notify PSG in advance, as stated in article 18 of FIFA’s Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players.’
“A club intending to include a contract with a professional must inform the player’s current club in writing before entering into negotiations with him. A professional shall only be free to include a contract with another club if his contract with his present club has expired or is due to expire within six months. Any breach of this provision shall be subject to appropriate sanctions.”.
Fayza Lamari, Mbappé’s mother and agent, will be expecting a call from the Spanish capital and will be told her son is wanted in Madrid but has until 15 January to make up his mind. Unlike up until now, verbal agreements will no longer be valid, with official documentation to be sent in anticipation of a formal transfer. The 24-year-old will have two weeks to think about it and even attempt to negotiate a better deal. But Los Merengues will turn their attentions to Haaland if nothing has been finalized by then.
What if Mbappé asks for more time to decide?
The million dollar question. Would Real Madrid be able to stick to their guns if Mbappé refused to make a decision on his future until the summer? It remains to be seen, but the LaLiga giants are adamant the potential move will be done on their terms.
Waiting another six months will lead to uncertainty over what may or may not happen, which is exactly what the club is keen to avoid. They want to have their business done early and eliminate the risk of being messed around by transfer targets. As it’s stands, it’s no later than January 15.