According to Spanish media outlet Fichajes, French Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé could leave the club next year, with Arsenal and Liverpool monitoring his performances.
The report says that if Real Madrid’s board cannot turn around the player’s growing discontent before the end of this season, Mbappé will ask to leave and seek talks with other clubs for a change of scenery. The 27-year-old World Cup winner joined Real Madrid with expectations that he would take his career to new heights. Instead, his former club Paris Saint-Germain have won the Champions League in consecutive seasons, while his former PSG teammate Ousmane Dembélé won the Ballon d’Or before him.
A disappointing spell at Real Madrid
After winning the Ligue 1 title in the 2016-17 season, Mbappé moved to Paris Saint-Germain, where he went on to win six more league titles. He also led France to victory at the 2018 World Cup and to the final of the 2022 World Cup. But at Real Madrid, he has so far won only a few individual trophies and finished behind Barcelona in La Liga in each of the past two seasons. This season under Mourinho, he has scored seven goals in seven league appearances, bringing his Real Madrid career tally to 94 goals in 111 games.
The report notes that only a handful of clubs can afford Mbappé, who was reportedly close to joining Liverpool before signing for Real Madrid. Things have not been peaceful behind the scenes at Madrid in recent years: player power led to Alonso’s dismissal last season, and Mourinho was brought back this season. Real Madrid lost the Madrid derby before the international break and now trail Barcelona by six points in the standings.
An opportunity for two Premier League giants
According to Fichajes, citing journalist Daniel Riolo, the France international is considering leaving because he is unhappy with whether the squad can compete at the highest level. This has immediately sparked interest from Premier League clubs such as Arsenal and Liverpool.
Mbappé is one of the most complete forwards in world football, while Real Madrid are currently in turmoil. Reports of this kind often emerge when a club needs to make changes. Perhaps some of those in power want to see change at Real Madrid, whether involving star players or the head coach.
Will Mbappé join Liverpool, reunite with his France teammate Barcola and become part of Iraola’s plans? Will Liverpool break their wage structure after Salah leaves? Or will he be drawn to London or Manchester? With Barcelona an impossible destination and Bayern tied to Kane, only a handful of clubs besides those in Saudi Arabia can afford Mbappé.
It seems he wants the chance to win the Champions League and the Ballon d’Or. The Premier League would offer him an ideal stage, and with the European Championship 20 months away, club competitions will drive his pursuit of those honours.