Lionel Messi is staying at Barcelona and, just like that, the biggest transfer saga of 2020 - if not in football history - is over.Oh well, it was fun while it lasted.But we already know what the biggest transfer saga will be in 2021, it seems.Not Messi but Kylian Mbappe.At the weekend, reports circulated suggesting Mbappe had told Paris Saint-Germain that he wanted to leave the club next summer.And those rumours escalated on Monday night when it was claimed he only wanted to join one club - Real Madrid.
That’s according to Josep Pedrerol of El Chiringuito.The reasons behind his desire to move to the Bernabeu include his admiration for compatriot Zinedine Zidane, his dream of playing for the club, his ambition to win the Champions League and Ballon d’Or and the strong French contingent at the club.
Next summer, Mbappe will have just one year left on his deal and he's confident PSG will allow him to leave. He’s even willing to take a pay cut to join Real.
At the moment, Los Blancos are playing the long game. They don’t intend to make an offer until PSG give them the green light and aren’t willing to get in a bidding war with other major European clubs. Instead, they will wait for Mbappe to confirm that he only wants them, which will then make negotiations fair easier.
Of course, the French club are unlikely to allow the 21-year-old to leave and French football expert Jonathan Johnson claims they’re trying to convince Mbappe that Parc des Princes is the perfect place for him.
"PSG are trying to convince the likes of Neymar and Mbappe that they are the club to stick with it. They just reached the Champions League final and have shown progress on the continental stage," Johnson said.
"Mbappe is a key part of their strategy but the player wants to see the club pushing seriously for Champions League success.
"With the current economic situation it is proving difficult for PSG to attract the calibre of star they need to boost their squad.
"There is plenty for PSG and Mbappe to work towards in the next couple of months.”