Real Madrid has issued a warning to Kylian Mbappe, indicating that he must make a decision about his future by mid-January if he intends to join the Santiago Bernabeu. The French striker, a long-standing target for Madrid, is set to enter the final six months of his contract with Paris Saint-Germain next month, granting him the freedom to engage in negotiations with overseas clubs.
Despite Madrid’s eagerness to secure Mbappe, The Athletic reports that club officials are cautious due to Mbappe’s surprising decision to reject them in the summer of 2022. At that time, it appeared certain that he would move to Spain on a free transfer before unexpectedly signing a substantial new deal with PSG.
In response to this, Madrid has communicated to Mbappe that he must make a definitive decision on his future by mid-January. At that point, the Spanish club hopes to shift their focus to other transfer targets. The primary challenge for Madrid will be meeting Mbappe’s financial demands. They are reluctant to offer exorbitant salaries that would disrupt their existing wage structure, and they may advise Mbappe that he needs to reject more lucrative offers if he genuinely desires a move to the Bernabeu.
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It is understood that Mbappe waived an €80 million loyalty bonus owed to him for staying with PSG beyond the previous summer. While he has communicated to PSG officials that he does not intend to sign a new contract, there is optimism in France that Madrid may not meet his wage expectations, potentially leading to another contract extension.
Despite rejecting an offer from Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal last summer, even after PSG accepted a €300 million bid for him, Mbappe’s previous stance has given Madrid confidence that a deal can be negotiated. With other priorities, including the potential signing of left-back Alphonso Davies from Bayern Munich, Madrid is keen not to waste time pursuing Mbappe if he is not fully committed to the move.