INEOS chief responds to calls for Man Utd to sign Kylian Mbappe
- Sir Dave Brailsford is part of the INEOS board that will control Man Utd
- Director of sport was asked to sign Mbappe after news of his PSG exit broke
- Real Madrid remain favourites to get a deal done
By Tom Gott
INEOS director of sport Sir Dave Brailsford has laughed off a request from a Manchester United fan to bring Kylian Mbappe to Old Trafford.
It emerged on Thursday that Mbappe had formally told Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi he plans to leave the club when his contract expires this summer, putting Europe's elite on high alert over perhaps the biggest free transfer in history.
One young fan posted a video of their chance meeting with Brailsford, who will play a major role in INEOS' control of United once Sir Jim Ratcliffe's takeover is finalised in the coming days, and asked whether a move for Mbappe is on the cards.
"He's got his heart set on going to Real Madrid, hasn't he?" Brailsford laughed (via the Daily Mail).
Premier League rivals Arsenal and Liverpool have both been speculatively linked with moves for Mbappe this summer but it is Real Madrid who remain firm favourites to get a deal over the line.
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Having entered the final six months of his contract with PSG, Mbappe has been free to speak with Madrid since 1 January and the French forward is well aware of the proposal on the table at the Santiago Bernabeu.
90min understands Madrid's offer is well below what PSG were offering to keep Mbappe around, with the bid thought to be similar to the offer given to Mbappe when he last approached free agency in the summer of 2022.
No agreement has been reached by Mbappe and Madrid at this point - the 25-year-old confirmed as much during his meeting Al-Khelaifi - but the Spanish side remain heavy favourites to get a deal over the line.
As for United, they are expected to pursue a new forward in the summer, with club officials looking for an experienced veteran goalscorer to help ease the pressure on young Rasmus Hojlund, who is starting to find his feet after a slow start to life in England.
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