The Story Of A Madrid Liaison

Since Mbappé moved from his first club AS Monaco to PSG, rumours have grown concerning the direction his career will follow, with one club football consistently around the young star.The forward has repeatedly fueled this fire by making overtures to Los Blancos year after year.The Bondy lad received a call from Real Madrid for the first time when he was just 13 years old. Zinedine Zidane, a legend of Real Madrid and the then-sporting director of Los Merengues. They had heard about the gifted young player and was eager to take a closer look.

Mbappé informed The Players’ Tribune that “my father received a call from someone. At Real Madrid inviting me to come to Spain for a training session for football over the holiday break.” They genuinely told my father that Zidane would like to visit his son, which was shocking.

Mbappé makes reference to this encounter. And his aspirations to one day don the fabled white shirt of Real Madrid in his comic book, “Je m’appelle Kylian.”

After this encounter, Mbappé’s friendship with the 14-time European Cup champion of football was put on wait until years later. When rumours of a lucrative transfer emerged. Mbappé even acknowledged having asked PSG for a transfer to the Spanish capital in 2021.

“He Stands For Excellence”

The explosive attacker’s performances for France’s national team and in Paris have further heightened Madrid’s interest. Mbappé is PSG’s all-time leading scorer with an incredible 219 goals and counting despite his young age.

Mbappé has also won numerous more domestic prizes and five league championships in the past six years while residing in the French city. Although Los Blancos have recently won the Champions League several times, the PSG No. 7 is yet to lift the trophy after failing to advance past the last obstacle in 2020.

More crucially for French fans, despite being only 19 years old, his outstanding performance in the 2018 World Cup helped the country’s squad win its second World Cup.

Although any prospective transfer of the 24-year-old to Madrid would have an effect on both teams off the court, such is the star’s reputation that conversations have even reached the Élysée Palace and President Emmanuel Macron of France.

In the summer of 2022, it was widely believed that the France forward would travel to Spain. Macron reportedly begged the nation’s most famous player to stay put.

In an interview with The New York Times, Mbappé remarked, “I never imagined I’d be talking with the president about my future in my career, so it’s something crazy, really something crazy.” “I want you to stay, he said to me. Please don’t leave right now. You are extremely crucial to the nation.

Macron’s compelling argument undoubtedly had an impact, the PSG star responded when asked. That counts when the president says it to you.

It Is Impossible To Overstate The Cultural Significance Of France’s Poster Boy

According to historian and author Lindsay Sarah Krasnoff, “I think he’s so significant for two or three key reasons.”

“I believe that is important since his on-pitch qualities are unmatched and speak for themselves. However, given how important and iconic Mbappé is, it’s also off the pitch. He represents greatness, am I right?

In her work, “The Making of Les Bleus,” Krasnoff examines numerous eras of French sport. She has examined French sport in depth. In her most recent work, “Basketball Empire,” she examines related topics that occur on the floor.

“Mbappé represents the best ideals and valour of the Fifth Republic and how it likes to see itself as successful, as excelling globally,” says Krasnoff. I believe it is critical to comprehend that, right? Despite the fact that we are aware that reality can be very different, he represents the myths of the Republic.

A product of the nation’s athletic system and a role model for the general public, the superstar striker is also the pinnacle of French sporting values, according to the author.

In contrast to former French footballers like Zinedine Zidane, Mbappé, who is aware of his reputation, uses his platform for good and is aware of the potential that comes with being in his position, according to Krasnoff. 

The Boy From Bondy

The sum of all these qualities makes Mbappé a ray of hope for residents of the Greater Paris region, which is renowned for its numerous, expansive suburbs.

One such location is Bondy, which lies little over 10 km from the Stade France in Paris, the home stadium of the French national team. Additionally, it is where Mbappé was born.

“Mbappé is a pure product of Bondy,” Nabil Larbi stated to CNN in 2018. Mbappé comes from a mixed-race family; his mother is from Algeria and his father is from Cameroon. This is Bondy’s and the French team’s visual representation.

Larbi, a councillor at Bondy’s town hall, was Mbappé’s neighbour when the two were little children in the commune.

Mbappé’s success

The future generation must witness Mbappé’s success, according to Krasnoff. Who also referenced tennis legend Billie Jean King’s catchphrase, “You have to see it to be it.”

“This is one of them who has gone so far, and it’s an example for the kids throughout the larger Parisian region.” She says. Even while we are aware that the chances are incredibly against your ordinary young football player. It kind of helps to make it seem a little bit more real that you too could succeed.

Being a part of and starring in France’s World Cup win in 2018 would have boosted this status. Even further, along with his incredible World Cup final hat trick in 2022.

However, PSG fans would have been nervous when it came to their star’s summer plans. Mbappé has so far refused to sign a new contract beyond this season. And, as a result, was left out of the team’s Japan tour. He was stuck training with the PSG ‘undesirables’ after the team reportedly put him on sale.

A late reconciliation with PSG President Nasser Al-Khelaifi though brought Mbappé back into the squad in late August and, despite further noise about a potential move to Madrid, the transfer window quietly closed without the young superstar leaving the City of Light.

Staying in the French capital, for another year at least, now allows Mbappé to continue to be a shining light for the next generation in France and reinforces that there is a feasible pathway to success.

Imagining Mbappé In Spain

Some of soccer’s biggest stars have historically been members of Real Madrid.

The 2005–06 Galácticos team included superstars like Zidane, Ronaldo Nazario, and David Beckham, among countless others. Five years later, record-breaking additions Kaká and Cristiano Ronaldo were both playing for Los Blancos.

“This has been the model of [club president] Florentino Pérez for over 23 years now, basically signing the best possible players,” Spanish football journalist lvaro Romeo tells CNN Sport.

With a young, new-look squad being formed, lead by rising players Vincius Jr. and Jude Bellingham, Real Madrid in 2023 will be a very different team. Mbappé has long been hailed as the team’s clear future talisman.

Dani Carvajal, the captain of Real Madrid, claimed that members of the team had even discussed the signing.

While representing Spain internationally, Carvajal told Spanish site Relevo, “Well, I’m not going to be a liar with you and say we didn’t talk about [Mbappé coming], but there were all types of opinions on it in the preseason chats.”

“I assumed he was on the way the moment he was dropped from the Japan tour. I believe Real Madrid will be his destination when he departs.

Romeo thinks that, although only being 24 years old, Mbappé would have been capable of leading Real’s new-look squad and its upcoming crop of players.

Real Madrid Top Target

“I think that he is definitely ready to be the leader of Real Madrid,” said Romeo. “On the pitch, he’s been a leader and he scored three goals in a World Cup final. I mean, that tells you the story through that.”

Mbappé will undoubtedly continue to be the top target. Especially given that club president Florentino Pérez is rumoured to be smitten with the forward. However, with Karim Benzema moving to Saudi Arabian team Al-Ittihad and summer signing Joselu. Real Madrid’s only recognised No. 9. It won’t be long before the side dips back into the market.

Real Madrid might still sign the forward before the end of his contract in January. When transfer rumours are expected to pick up again.

Romeo asserts that Real Madrid will be in a highly favourable position going forward because of their unquestionably bright future.