A new report on Kylian Mbappe’s future may open the door to the French superstar possibly joining his old teammate Lionel Messi in MLS this summer.
While players like Messi and Portuguese legend Cristiano Ronaldo are viewed as the most popular soccer players in the world, a case could be made that Paris Saint Germain star Kylian Mbappe is the best player on earth right now. Which makes his value to a club and league invaluable.
Over the last few months, various reports have stated Mbappe will be leaving PSG after the completion of his contract this summer. And all signs pointed to him taking his talents to La Liga to play for iconic Spanish club Real Madrid. Well, not so fast on those Mbappe to Spain expectations.
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According to The Athletic, negotiations with Real Madrid have hit a bit of a tipping point. The outlet claims the Spanish club’s current offer is reportedly lower than his options in a deal to stay with PSG. And despite Madrid president Florentino Perez being heavily involved in discussions, the positive vibes about a deal getting done have diminished.
Furthermore, a deadline set by the team to get something done by January “was not welcomed by the player’s entourage,” and it seems some are trying to talk him out of signing with Real Madrid.
“However, sources consulted say that the player’s entourage is divided on how to proceed. According to them, important voices among Mbappe’s camp point out that Madrid’s offer is below what Mbappe earns at PSG, or could earn from another potential suitor,” The Athletic reported.
What would it take for MLS or other leagues to land Kylian Mbappe this summer?
That other suitors point is interesting and could open the door for MLS if they wanted to bring the one-time World Cup winner to the United States. While it won’t be easy, what would it take to sign the 25-year-old that hasn’t even hit his prime?
According to The Athletic report, Real Madrid offered the Frenchman a €130million (or $140 million) signing bonus and a salary of €26million (or $28 million) per season two years ago when they first tried to bring him to Spain. While PSG allegedly is offering a deal worth €75million (or $80 million) per season.
In comparison, Inter Miami gave Lionel Messi a landmark deal that would see him get a percentage of AppleTV+ subscriptions, an equity stake in the team, and a yearly salary of $54 million. The league would have to pay up much more and possibly offer a short-term deal to entice him to play in the US for a couple of seasons.
That is why MLS may have to work out a contract where they offer Kylan Mbappe a serious stake in an MLS club, and a deal worth at least $75 million per season. To get the most out of the decision, he would also need to play in a major market, so one of the New York or Los Angeles clubs would be a good fit. That is before any other outside deals.
Whether the league can afford that or if Mbappe would even consider it is another question. But the prestige the best player in the world right now would bring to the league even in the short-term is earth-shattering. That is also why the Saudi Pro League could also be a serious contender because they could throw a billion dollars a season at the soccer star if they wanted to.
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