When and how Kylian Mbappe plans to announce Real Madrid move
- Kylian Mbappe in talks over summer move to Real Madrid with PSG contract expiring
- Forward to make announcement at some point prior to Euro 2024
- Madrid do not want unveiling to clash with Taylor Swift concerts at Santiago Bernabeu
By Sean Walsh
Kylian Mbappe will not announce confirmation of a summer move to Real Madrid until Paris Saint-Germain are eliminated from the Champions League, according to a report.
The 25-year-old is expected to leave PSG when his contract expires at the end of the 2023/24 season. He decided against triggering a one-year extension in his deal last summer and as a result forfeited around €80m in loyalty bonuses.
Mbappe is in talks with Madrid over a long-awaited transfer to the Santiago Bernabeu, though they have not yet reached an agreement.
But even when the two parties come to terms over a deal, MARCA report Mbappe wants to be the one to announce the move, while he does not plan on doing so while PSG are still fighting for the Champions League.
PSG have been drawn with Madrid's bitter rivals Barcelona in the quarter-finals having eased past Real Sociedad in the last 16. If the French champions beat Barca, they will face either Atletico Madrid or Borussia Dortmund in the semi-finals.
It is therefore possible that Mbappe's final game for PSG could come against Madrid in the Champions League final. Los Blancos will take on holders Manchester City in their quarter-final matchup, with Arsenal or Bayern Munich awaiting the winner.
Mbappe's announcement will therefore also take into consideration whether he will come up against Madrid in the closing stages of this season.
If neither PSG or Madrid reach the Champions League final, then Mbappe is likely to confirm a move on the final weekend of the Ligue 1 season on May 18/19. He is almost certain to make an announcement on his future prior to France's Euro 2024 campaign.
Madrid want to unveil Mbappe at the Santiago Bernabeu in May, though ideally a day before or after Taylor Swift's two-night stopover at the stadium on May 29 and May 30.