Paris Saint-Germain star Kylian Mbappe reportedly received a part of his Real Madrid signing bonus in December, but the Spanish champions will now be receiving that preliminary fee back.
Mbappe stunned the football world last week when he made a stunning U-Turn. All signs pointed to the Frenchman leaving Paris for Real Madrid; it appeared that the move was a matter of when, not if.
However, PSG made a last-minute bid to entice Mbappe away from Madrid, offering a massive signing bonus and weekly wage. Mbappe eventually agreed to sign a contract with the Parc des Princes club until 2025.
Madrid was understandably shocked by the decision, and La Liga has filed a formal complaint with UEFA, questioning the manner in which PSG offered Mbappe a contract, calling it “scandalous.”
There appears to be a new twist in this never-ending saga nearly a week after Mbappe’s announcement.
Tomas Gonzalez-Martin, a Spanish journalist, revealed to Bernabeu Digital that Madrid had paid a portion of Mbappe’s signing fee in December of last year.
He said: “I was not surprised by what happened this week. If you asked me 15 days ago I would have said yes because he(Mbappe) had more or less agreed with Real Madrid.”
“He had received an advance of 40 million of the signing on premium in December. Everything was signed in a pre-agreement since last year when he was going to make the transfer.”
Gonzalez-Martin stated that Mbappe eventually got swayed by the eye-watering money that PSG had offered him.
He said: “Mbappe has been given almost 300 million renewal bonus and about 90 million net salary per year. In the end, he gave in for the money, which shows that he is not looking for sporting success and that he has betrayed Real Madrid.”
It is now reported that Madrid are no longer going to waste time with someone who ‘has no word.’ The club is now looking for other options to bolster their attack.
Madrid are also reportedly linked with Monaco midfiedler Aurelien Tchouameni and Manchester City’s Ilkay Gundogan as the club look at potential replacements for Toni Kroos and Luka Modric.
After this set back, Madrid has a chance to show that they don’t need Mbappe. They will be in Paris on Saturday when they face Liverpool in the much anticipated Champions League final. Madrid will be looking to win the club’s 14th European crown, with Liverpool looking for their seventh.