Par Jorge C. Picon – Kylian Mbappé can, thanks to FIFA regulations, sign a contract with any club six months before the end of his contract with PSG. This is stipulated in point 3 of article 18 of the Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players. However, it also specifies that in order to enter into negotiations or conclude a contract with a player, the club interested in the player must communicate its intentions in writing to the club to which the player belongs. This means that if Madrid want to finalize a deal for the French striker before June 30, they must inform Paris Saint-Germain first.
Any violation will result in penalties
Point 3 of Article 18 reads as follows: “A club which wishes to conclude a contract with a professional player must communicate its intention in writing to the player’s club before entering into negotiations with the latter. A professional player is free to sign a contract with another club if his contract with the current club has expired or will expire within six months. Any breach of this provision will be subject to appropriate sanctions”.
Not to miss
According to lawyers specializing in sports law consulted by Goal, the notice is sufficient to close a negotiation with a player who must be released within six months or less. In other words, if PSG received or had already received such a notification, there is no way they might prevent Mbappé from discussing or even signing a deal with Real Madrid. A legal issue that the Whites need to consider, but which would in no way be a hindrance to the signing of the player. Another option would be to wait until July 1 to close the deal. In this case, Madrid would already be negotiating with a player without a valid contract, and therefore would not have to inform Paris Saint-Germain.
The rule is the same for everyone
This rule can also be applied to Antonio Rüdiger, signed by Madrid and who will arrive for free at the end of the season. In his case, Madrid should inform Chelsea. The clubs that come for Isco, Marcelo or Bale, the three White House players whose contracts expire in 2022, will also have to comply with this same rule.
