‘Mbappe wants to join Real Madrid’

Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) director, Leonardo has confirmed that Kylian Mbappe wants to join Real Madrid, but insisted that the club have no intention of selling him for less than what they paid Monaco for his services in 2018.

Mbappe is in the final year of his current deal and he has been linked with a move away from PSG, either this summer or at the end of the season, for some time.

The forward is thought to want a new sporting project after dominating domestically with the Parisians but failing to win the Champions League.

Real are currently looking like his most likely destination with Los Blancos submitting a €160m opening bid. This is thought to be €40m shy of PSG’s asking price and the two parties have some way to go before a deal is agreed.

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Leonardo gave an update on the saga to RMC on Tuesday afternoon, saying: “Kylian Mbappé wants to join Real Madrid and we will not hold him back. We said no to Madrid’s first offer, but if our conditions are met, we’ll see.

He went on to bemoan Real’s handling of negotiations, claiming that they contacted the player directly instead of through the club – a move he described as ‘illegal’.

“It seems like a strategy to try to get a no from us, to show that they have tried everything and to wait for a year to get Mbappé for free. Kylian always promised he wouldn’t leave for free,” he said.

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He added: “Real Madrid’s official offer is very far from what we want for Kylian. Yes, it’s around €160m. It’s less than what we paid for him in 2017.”

90min understands that PSG had initially wanted Mbappe to stay this season so he could play alongside new arrival Lionel Messi. However, they have since had a change of heart, indicating to Real that they were ready to open negotiations.