Mbappe transfer saga: Real Madrid considered withdrawing offer

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By Martin Graham | 23rd May 2022

As a mentally exhausting week for fans of both Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain wraps up, it has been revealed that the Spanish giants considered withdrawing their offer to Kylian Mbappe.

Mbappe and Madrid’s failed love story goes farther back than the 2020/21 season when the moves to bring him to the Santiago Bernabeu officially started. Mbappe, a lifelong Madrid fan, expressed a desire to move to Spain and play for the club of his dreams, but PSG blocked a move last season.

Madrid were unable to sway the Qatari-backed French club with their €230 million bid for the World Cup winner. The 2021/22 season was spent in a back and forth with Mbappe, whose old contract was due to run out in June 2022.

PSG, on the other hand, were making their own moves, backed by the state of Qatar, to keep Mbappe at the club beyond his expiring contract. Still, it was believed that the 2018 Kopa Trophy winner was destined to move to Madrid.

Last week, Mbappe announced that he would make his decision known in the final week of the season. His decision was that he would remain at PSG, signing a deal for the next three years and breaking Madridistas hearts in the process.

Madrid saw betrayal coming

Following the decision of the young forward to remain at Parc De Princes, it was revealed that Madrid had seen the decision coming a few weeks ago and on Friday, considered withdrawing their offer.

Spanish outlet Marca reports that the Real Madrid directors were wary of Mbappe’s hesitation which lasted the whole season. They felt he was disrespectful towards them and they considered withdrawing their offer on Friday.

However, Madrid president Florentino Perez, who had been in direct contact with the player throughout the transfer period, overruled their decision as the president and asked that the offer remain.

Mbappe then directly contacted Perez on Saturday morning that he was going to sign a renewal with PSG, which he did on Saturday afternoon.

Madrid have no plans to force Mbappe replacement

Marca also reports that the club has no plan B and will count on Vinicius Junior and Karim Benzema to lead their attack next season.

The club will instead turn to replacements in the midfield and defence, and smaller attacking replacements with the imminent departures of Marco Asensio, Mariano Diaz and Luka Jovic.