Paris Saint-Germain forward, Kylian Mbappe, will make one of the most important decisions of his life and career in the next few days.
Mbappe, who is the hottest commodity in world football at the moment, runs out of contract at PSG this summer and has been caught between renewing his deal at the club and joining arguably the most successful football club in the world, Real Madrid.
The young Frenchman’s talent is never in doubt; especially since his days at Monaco. His gift, speed with the ball, and deft touches at the time at just 18 swept everyone away. The striker joined PSG initially on a season-long loan, before signing a four-year deal with the Qatari-owned club for a fee of around £166million in 2017.
Since then, the 23-year-old has established himself as one of the best in the world. He has scored 165 goals for the Parc des Princes side in five seasons and has helped the club win 15 titles, including four Ligue 1 titles within the period. At 19, he netted four times at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia to help France lift their second trophy after 20 years.
PSG has been negotiating with the star over a new contract for several months now, but it seemed Mbappe was not ready to remain in France, with many speculating that the lack of a Champions League trophy is the main reason he wanted to leave. The hierarchy at the club increased their offer and that appeared to pacify him. When a decision was expected, he told the club he had not made up his mind.
In their characteristic manner, Real Madrid pounced on the opportunity, dangling their enticing profile before the 2018 World Cup young player award winner. The Los Merengues have won 13 Champions League titles and are in another final this month. They can afford any player and are clubs any professional footballer would want to play for. Real appeared to have spinned Mbappe’s head with a mouthwatering offer, and he gave the club his word, though with no agreement.
On Friday, his mother, Fayza, confirmed his son’s position with PSG and Real. According to her, the two offers from both clubs are identical and it is left to Mbappe to decide where he would play football next season.
The fear many have now is, past great football stars who had the world under their feet like Mbappe were in similar situations and, the decisions they took ended their glorious careers.
Mbappe’s teammate, Neymar Jr, joined the French club from Barcelona at a world-record transfer fee of £200million the same year he also moved to the club on loan from Monaco.
The Brazilian had left Barcelona with the insinuation that he was living in the shadows of Lionel Messi, with whom he formed the best-attacking trio in world football at that time, which also had Luis Suarez. It is not debatable that Neymar’s stocks have drastically fallen since he decided to leave the Catalan side.
The 30-year-old was tipped as the future Ballond’Or winner right from his time at Santos, and the possibility became even brightened when the Spanish club secured his services in 2013. They believe then that he would follow in the footsteps of Ronaldo de Lima and Rivaldo at Barcelona, who became legends at the club.
Football experts have concluded that Neymar’s decision to join PSG five years ago signaled an end to the individual glory he sought.
Mbappe should take a long, hard thought about the decision he is about to make. It can also either make or mar his career, as we all out of pity, see Neymar today.
