BarcelonaThe information surrounding Florentino Pérez has been a constant in recent months. Especially those who speculated that the president of Real Madrid would resign following an alleged ill health. Rumors that ended with the Chamartín club issuing a statement denying them. An unusual fact, since the entity rarely uses its official channels for this purpose, especially when the comments arise from social networks and not from traditional news media.
The summer was supposed to be quiet, in the Bernabéu box office, after learning that coach Carlo Ancelotti was still on the bench, that star Karim Benzema was leaving for Saudi Arabia and that the signings of Bellingham and Arda Güler, the two big bets of the season were closed in the month of June. But Kylian Mbappé’s arrival on the scene altered the agenda and turned Real Madrid’s sporting and economic planning upside down. The French winger had a real option to arrive in Madrid this summer. In return, of course, to present a millionaire offer to Paris Saint-Germain.
If until now the Franco-Qatari club refused to negotiate for the footballer, the fact that his contract ends in 2024 altered the rules of the game. Mbappé did not want to renew and, before leaving for free in a year, PSG presented him with an ultimatum: “Our position is clear, either extend the contract or present us with an offer to leave”, said the president, Nasser al- Khelaifi.
In Madrid they rubbed their hands and the club, through Florentino’s environment, was in charge of feeding hopes. When PSG followed through on the threat and left Mbappé out of the summer tour, relegating him to training with the reserve team, it was assumed that the French winger would change gears this summer. In addition, it would have been the perfect advertising campaign for the inauguration of the new Bernabéu, whose works will be completed before the end of the year.
But the days passed and the operation was not completed. There was no news of the 200 million that Madrid was allegedly willing to pay. Little by little, the soufflé went down as speculation began about whether, indeed, Florentino had the financial capacity to face this signing. Doubts were fueled taking into account that the remodeling of the Bernabéu has had a significant cost overrun, or information questioning the finances of the white team.
The latest script twist was coming over the weekend. PSG reported that, after a meeting between the president and its big star, Mbappé was rejoining training with the first team. In addition, the club was responsible for filtering a The Team that Mbappé was willing to extend his contract, at least until 2025. Nothing has been signed at the moment, but the silence at the Bernabéu contrasts with the champagne bottles being opened in Paris.
Madrid makes the signing of Kepa official to replace Courtois
Meanwhile, on the sporting front, Madrid have had a tragic week with long-term injuries to Thibaut Courtois and Éder Militão, with individual cruciate ligament tears in the knee. In the case of the goalkeeper, the club yesterday confirmed the arrival of Kepa Arrizabalaga, a 28-year-old Basque player who signed from Chelsea on a season-long loan. In the case of the central defender, Madrid is exploring the market looking for a replacement. You have until September 1st.
2023-08-14 16:50:53
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