According to Real Madrid president Florentino Perez, Kylian Mbappe chose to remain at Paris Saint-Germain because he was “confused” after being placed under severe “political and economic pressure.” However, when asked whether Mbappe may join Real Madrid in the future, Perez left the door open for the 23-year-old. Perez said, “This Mbappe is not my Mbappe.” “But who knows what will happen if he changes? Life has a thousand twists and turns.”
Mbappe upset Real Madrid last month when he turned down a transfer to the Santiago Bernabeu in favour of a new three-year deal with PSG, reportedly for between 40 and 50 million euros ($41.6 million to $52 million).
“They virtually gave him the possibility to be the head, not only of a football club but also of the administration,” Perez said on Wednesday on the Spanish television show El Chiringuito.
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“We realized it wasn’t the Mbappe we intended to deliver, but rather the pressure he was under, which caused him to alter his aspirations.
“When the president of a nation summons a child, it naturally impacts him. This had a significant impact on him. But, like Zidane, you can be a source of pride for your country’s president while succeeding at Real Madrid.”
Due to the rumoured participation of French President Emmanuel Macron and PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi, head of Qatar Sports Investments, Perez feels Mbappe was most swayed by French and Qatari political pressure.
“I believe the political pressure was the one that had the biggest impact on him,” Perez remarked.
“He has changed his mind because of this, as well as the money and the prospect of leadership. He was having a difficult time. I realize that when you’re in a panic, you want to get out of it as soon as possible. I don’t understand why the King of Spain calls a Spanish club to urge them that a player should remain.
“There are two nations interested there,” Perez explained. “One is Qatar, and the other is France.” “I’ve been here since 2000, and I’ve never heard a state president refer to a player before. Like (Zinedine) Zidane and (Karim) Benzema, you can be a world-class player and not play in France.”
“I tell you calmly that life is not done yet,” Perez remarked when asked a second time about Mbappe joining in the future.
Real Madrid had been connected with a bid for Borussia Dortmund’s Erling Haaland, but Haaland had already joined Manchester City when Mbappe decided to remain at PSG.
“It had no bearing on the situation. This circumstance was irreconcilable with Haaland since we already had the greatest centre-forward in the world (Benzema) “According to Perez.