The long-awaited confirmation of Kylian Mbappé’s move to Real Madrid is expected to be announced shortly this week, as per free transfer terms. Last month, the forward from France publicised that he was leaving Paris Saint-Germain, where he has played for seven seasons. Even though it is widely known where the striker is going, his destination has not been officially confirmed. His mother, Fayza Lamari, has also hinted about his next move.
Real Madrid chose to delay this announcement until the conclusion of their season. After clinching their 15th UEFA Champions League victory and with the statement from the French coach, Didier Deschamps, expressing his desire for his skipper’s future to be resolved before the Euros commence, Real Madrid are now prepared to officially announce Mbappé’s signing. The football club expects to make this announcement by Monday.
His presentation as a Real Madrid player is not expected to occur until mid-July, given that the French national team is fully engaged in preparing for the forthcoming summer tournament. Whether or not Mbappé will play in the Olympics is still unclear.
Whilst Real Madrid’s coach, Carlo Ancelotti, continued to give nothing away about Mbappé’s move after the Champions League final on Saturday, Jude Bellingham was more forthcoming, declaring that the French striker’s arrival would enhance their team’s performance.
This brings an end to Madrid’s persistent pursuit of Mbappé that lasted seven years and was hardly a secret. At 25-years-old, his contract has expired, enabling him to leave PSG without a transfer fee and after declining a €200m acquisition proposal from Madrid last year. Coincidentally, his departure happens without him winning a UEFA Champions League title with PSG. Instead, he now joins the team that holds the record for the most Champions League wins.
To celebrate their recent Champions League victory, Madrid has planned for a trophy parade around the city on Sunday evening. The parade will cover the city hall, the cathedral, the statue of Cibeles and finally end at the Santiago Bernabéu. In an interview with Movistar, president Florentino Pérez referred to Real Madrid’s history with the European Cup as a “love story”. He reaffirmed that although players come and go, they remain a dominant presence in the competition.