2024-02-24 20:18:46
Everyone in Paris, from the club owners to President Macron, was working to please the player
On Mbappe Saint-Germain There was always an inevitable feeling that Kylian Mbappe’s days at Paris Saint-Germain were numbered, following the French star developed from an 18-year-old teenager into a bigger star than Paris Saint-Germain, and indeed the entire French Premier League. Mbappe’s farewell tour began in Nantes in the last stage of the French League, where fans gathered at the “La Beaujoire” stadium, and some of them confirmed that they had traveled more than 100 kilometers just to see Mbappe. The home team’s fans welcomed the France captain with cheers when he came on as a substitute an hour into the match, which is further evidence of the player’s great fame, which extends beyond Paris Saint-Germain. Mbappe scored a goal from a penalty kick late in the match, leading his club to win by two unanswered goals.
Paris Saint-Germain coach Luis Enrique said following news emerged that Mbappé had made a decision to leave the French club at the end of the season: “The club is bigger than any individual.” The Spanish coach echoed the words of club president Nasser Al-Khelaifi, and repeated this phrase three times in quick succession. Perhaps this was an attempt on Enrique’s part to convince himself of anything else, but what is certain is that all the events and decisions taken over the past six years say exactly the opposite.
The Spanish sports newspaper Marca reported on Monday that Mbappe had signed a five-year contract with Real Madrid, starting next July, in a free transfer deal. Mbappe, 25 years old, has been linked to moving to Real Madrid in recent years, and he informed the management of his French club in the summer of last year that he would not renew his contract, which expires at the end of the current season. Marca added that Mbappe, who won the 2018 World Cup with France, informed Al-Khelaifi once more of this desire last week in a “friendly meeting.”
The newspaper pointed out that Mbappe, who joined Paris Saint-Germain from Monaco in the summer of 2017, asked Al-Khelaifi not to make any other offers to him because he had already signed with Real Madrid. “Marca” stated that this agreement was concluded two weeks ago, but the deal has not been officially confirmed, knowing that Mbappe had confirmed in early January that he had not made a final decision regarding his future.
Even before his move to Paris Saint-Germain from Monaco, Real Madrid was seeking to include Mbappe. At the end of each season, the same question was asked: Will this be the year in which he finally leaves for the “Merengue”? As the seasons passed, and Paris Saint-Germain entered what can be described as the era of the Galacticos (stars who possess extraordinary abilities), which ended quickly, and with the arrival of Neymar and then Lionel Messi, Mbappe’s importance continued to grow, and the number of his goals continued to rise. Mbappe became Paris Saint-Germain’s all-time top scorer last year, surpassing the record held by Edinson Cavani, even though Mbappe played 54 fewer matches.
But Mbappe’s importance was much greater for Paris Saint-Germain, as well as its owners. The club was subjected to severe criticism due to mismanagement and failure to exploit local talent, so Mbappe was a symbol of reorganization and evidence of the existence of great competencies within the club. His presence in the team demonstrated the club’s ability to learn from past mistakes. For the club’s owners, Mbappé was more than just the most valuable player in world football at the moment, he embodied Paris and was invaluable to the owners.
For Mbappe, Paris Saint-Germain has become a “prison”, which is the description those close to the player are said to use to describe the French Premier League champions. “I will be clear: Kylian will remain in Paris,” Al-Khelaifi said in the summer of 2021, amid Real Madrid’s recent attempts to sign the player. “We will never sell him, and he will never leave for free.” But it seems that these words will not come true on the ground, following Mbappe is very close to moving to the Royal Club.
In order to keep this precious jewel in the face of all temptations, Paris Saint-Germain resorted to many plans and tactics, which culminated in the decision to hand Mbappe the keys to the club in 2022, in addition to granting the French star an unparalleled salary. Mbappe’s influence has been unprecedented and almost unrestrained. Luis Campos was appointed to a prominent position at the club through talks that saw Mbappe renew his contract with Paris Saint-Germain until 2024. The club’s recruitment strategy – especially that related to the unsuccessful search for a prototypical outspoken striker – was the brainchild of the young Frenchman, Who wanted to repeat the strong relationship between him and Olivier Giroud at the international level.
Aside from financial incentives and temptations to gain more influence in the club’s management, political pressures also played a role in keeping Mbappe at Paris Saint-Germain. The French player revealed that he had a conversation with President Emmanuel Macron, who expressed his desire for Mbappé to remain at Paris Saint-Germain. The French president said, according to Mbappe: “I don’t want you to leave. You have a chance to write history here, and everyone loves you.”
The matter also reached the point that US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, who is a fan of Paris Saint-Germain and who spent several years of his childhood in Paris, had his say in this matter, as he thanked Macron for the role he played in keeping Mbappe in the “Parc des Princes” stadium. ». As well as being now considered the most talented player on the planet, Mbappe has also become a political tool to be exploited for diplomatic or marketing gain.
Mbappe has also become indispensable to the French Football League and its president, Vincent Labrune, especially following the departure of Neymar and Messi last summer, which made Mbappe the first and undisputed advertising face of the French Premier League. News of Mbappe’s departure comes at a time when the French Premier League is struggling to sell its broadcast rights. Labrun was trying to get revenues from the television broadcast of the matches amounting to one billion euros, but he failed to do so. It is certain that Mbappe’s departure greatly weakens the position of the French Premier League in negotiations related to match broadcast revenues.
It is certain that all aspects of French football will be negatively affected by Mbappe’s departure, given that this young player possesses exceptional talent and great influence. His departure will leave a void at the upper levels where politics and football intersect in France, but on the field, perhaps the void he will leave can be filled with time.
Since Enrique’s arrival in France last summer, he has been meeting all of Mbappe’s desires and needs, and the Spanish coach has also given the player a free role on the field, even though this contradicts the way Enrique wants to implement it on the field. Moreover, the rapid development of young star Bradley Barkula also brings a sense of optimism. Now, it seems that Mbappe is preparing to leave the “prison” of Paris Saint-Germain, but his departure will also lead to the “liberation” of the Parisians, whether on the financial or sporting level, as this inevitable separation will be in the interest of both parties!
*The Guardian service
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