Barcelona seems to have gained an advantage over arch-rivals Real Madrid in the pursuit of Kylian Mbappe, as they reportedly withdrew from the race to sign him as a gesture for Barcelona’s commitment to the European Super League project. Mundo Deportivo suggests that Madrid, who previously courted Mbappe as a teenager, is now stepping back, leaving Barcelona as a surprising frontrunner.
In 2017, Mbappe chose Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) over Real Madrid. However, in mid-2022, there were indications of a possible move from PSG to Real Madrid. Yet, Mbappe eventually extended his contract with PSG, securing a position at the top of Forbes’ list of the World’s Highest-Paid Soccer Players.
While PSG celebrated this commitment with a special “Mbappe 2025” jersey, Mundo Deportivo claims that Barcelona has entered the scene as a dark horse. President Joan Laporta is reportedly encouraged by a favorable ruling from the European Court of Justice, challenging UEFA’s monopoly on continental football.
With the proposed European Super League set to materialize, Barca and Real Madrid are expected to receive substantial financial rewards. This windfall could enable Barcelona to launch “Operation Donatello,” aiming to secure Mbappe as their marquee signing for the renovated Spotify Camp Nou stadium’s unveiling on the club’s 125th anniversary in November next year.
The report suggests that Real Madrid, in a show of support for Barcelona’s stance on the Super League, may allow Barcelona a clear path to sign Mbappe. However, this unusual scenario includes a peculiar condition set by Madrid president Florentino Perez: Mbappe must not use his strongest right foot against Real Madrid in El Clasico.
It’s important to note that the information comes with a twist, as it was published on Spain’s equivalent of April Fool’s Day, known as Holy Innocents’ Day. Absurdities, such as PSG’s Ousmane Dembele supposedly lending Mbappe his Barcelona house and Luis Enrique praising the local press, add to the skepticism surrounding the report.
In reality, the likelihood remains that Mbappe could join Real Madrid ahead of the 2024/2025 season. Even if he were available for free, financial constraints suggest that Barcelona may struggle to afford Mbappe’s reported annual salary of $90 million.
Meanwhile, transitioning to a “base plus” model has proven beneficial for the club, with a base fee and incremental fees contributing to a 21% growth in revenues through September 2023.
