After Al Hilal offered a world-record fee of around $332 million, Paris Saint-Germain gave Kylian Mbappe approval to talk about personal terms with them. James Benge, a football expert for CBS Sports, says that the French champions have told the 24-year-old that he can talk to the Saudi Pro League club, which plans to offer a huge pay deal worth $776 million.
The French champions told the player he can talk to the Saudi Pro League club. The most important part of Al Hilal’s offer is that Mbappe would still be able to join Real Madrid in 2024. PSG thinks that this deal has already been made, with a signing-on fee of around $178 million said to have been agreed upon.
The French superstar is currently working in Paris with some not-so-good Parisian players while the rest of his team is on a summer tour of Asia and he is not with them. PSG’s stance hasn’t changed: Mbappe can stay and continue to be a part of the project if he extends his current contract past 2024. The former Monaco player has already told his current team that he will not take advantage of the possible chance to extend his contract until 2025. Mbappe and Al Hilal haven’t talked directly about a possible move yet, and PSG will only agree to it if Mbappe agrees.
We explain what’s going on with Mbappe’s future now.
Is the Saudi Offer Real?
Yes — backed by the Public Investment Fund Al Hilal wants Mbappe to be their most eye-catching signing yet. The Saudi giants were supposed to sign Lionel Messi, but the legendary Argentine decided to join Inter Miami instead. This summer, Saudi Pro League teams are spending a lot of money, but this would be a whole new level because of the size of the possible transfer fee and the personal terms that could be on offer. This is PSG’s dream situation since they could lose him for free next summer, which is something they are determined not to let happen.
Would This be a New Record?
Neymar’s move to PSG in 2017 for about $245 million is the current world trade record. Mbappe’s move from Monaco to PSG cost just under $200 million, which puts him in second place. If the France international moves to Al Hilal for the amounts being talked about, it would be a new, and probably unbeatable, record deal, which might be something that Mbappe wants. Already one of the highest-paid players in the world, those wages would take him to a whole new level. However, he would need to make big business deals to get the full value.
Will Mbappe Really Join Al Hilal?
It’s too early to say for sure if Mbappe will move to Saudi Arabia or not, but there’s no question that this is an interesting possibility. Now that Al Hilal is interested, it puts pressure on Real Madrid to move quickly to sign the French player. It also gives the player an option other than sitting on the bench in Paris next season without a contract. European teams won’t be able to match the money that Saudi clubs have, but if it’s confirmed that Mbappe is for sale, clubs like those in the Premier League who have a lot of money could make serious offers.
Related: Lionel Messi Officially Completes Transfer to Inter Miami
