LaLiga president Javier Tebas said on Friday that there is a “99% chance” that Kylian Mbappé joins Real Madrid this summer.
ESPN reported on Monday that Mbappé and Madrid are in talks — with the club optimistic about a positive outcome — after sources told ESPN that the France international informed Paris Saint-Germain that he intends to leave when his contract expires in June.
“Knowing that he’s leaving PSG, there’s a 99% chance that Mbappé signs for Real Madrid,” Tebas told French newspaper L’Équipe. “But I don’t know if he’s already signed.
“It’s great news for Real Madrid and for Spanish football. [Mbappé] is one of the best players in the world. In my view, [Jude] Bellingham, [Erling] Haaland and Mbappé are the three most dominant players on the planet, and two of them are at Real Madrid.”
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Tebas has an often confrontational relationship with Madrid and the club’s president Florentino Pérez, with the pair previously clashing over Madrid’s backing for the European Super League, as well as LaLiga’s handling of the league’s income from television rights.
However the LaLiga president praised Pérez’s financial management, which has put Madrid in a position to negotiate a costly deal for Mbappé.
“Real Madrid is currently in excellent financial shape,” remarked Tebas. “President Pérez and Director General José Ángel Sánchez are adept managers, although they encounter difficulties when organizing new competitions.
“Their financial performance is impressive, allowing them ample room for expenditures. Madrid has been financially prudent, preparing for the potential signing of Mbappé… They won’t need to offload any players to secure Mbappé’s signature.”
Mbappé has long been Real Madrid’s primary transfer target, with negotiations nearly finalizing in 2022 before the forward opted to renew with PSG.
Should Mbappé join, he will bolster a Madrid squad already boasting talents like Bellingham and Vinícius Júnior. Madrid leads LaLiga by six points.
Tebas emphasized that signings like Mbappé aren’t vital for LaLiga to compete with the Premier League.
“While signing top players is beneficial, it’s not indispensable,” Tebas stated.
“Having renowned coaches like Mourinho or Guardiola is advantageous. Despite the departures of Ronaldo, Neymar, and Messi, the league remains robust. However, Mbappé’s arrival will further strengthen our position.”
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