Do you ever get the sense that something is about to go in your favor, but you’re hesitant to jinx it or start celebrating too early? That’s the prevailing feeling in the Spanish capital, following Paris Saint-Germain’s confirmation to the media that Kylian Mbappe will be departing the club.
While there have been previous reports of Mbappe’s decision to leave PSG, the pivotal moment came when he informed Nasser Al-Khelaifi that he would not be extending his contract. This opened the door for Real Madrid to get involved. It may seem like a done deal, and it likely is, but the latest word is that Florentino Perez will only now make a formal offer.
Although there have been recent communications and discussions of figures, it seems that negotiations have not yet taken place. Nonetheless, Aurelien Tchouameni mentioned that Mbappe has been a major topic of conversation in the dressing room, and internally, they will be thrilled – although not everyone may share the same sentiment.
Meanwhile, the Mbappe news has diverted attention from Barcelona’s search for a new manager. As it stands, Hansi Flick and Roberto de Zerbi of Brighton are the top two candidates, with Thomas Tuchel potentially being a wildcard option if he departs from Bayern Munich, in every sense of the word. De Zerbi is highly regarded, but his release clause, rumored to be between €12-15m, poses a significant obstacle for Barcelona, leaving Flick as the frontrunner.
Athletic Club anticipates the sale of Nico Williams this summer, with several clubs, including AFC, expressing interest in the Spanish international winger.
At Can Barca, there is a great deal of uncertainty, as both Frenkie de Jong and Ronald Araujo are set for contract negotiations in the coming months. If they do not agree to extend their contracts, both players could be on the market this summer.
In other news, Real Sociedad may have suffered heartbreak in Paris on Valentine’s Day, but the positive news is that Takefusa Kubo has extended his contract until 2029, despite interest from Saudi Arabia and Liverpool in January. Romance wasn’t completely absent, as Memphis Depay gifted one of his teammates a large ring on the same day.
Rayo Vallecano dismissed Francisco and brought in Inigo Perez, a former assistant of Andoni Iraola. Perez was initially set to join Bournemouth with Iraola, but he was unable to obtain a work permit due to changes in Brexit laws. Oh, and Almeria still hasn’t won a game after 24 matches, narrowly missing a goal in the final minute against Athletic Club on Monday in a 0-0 draw – confirming that water is indeed wet.
Image via FRANCK FIFE / AFP
According to the Source caughtoffside.com