Football's worst kept secret was finally revealed on Monday, with confirmation that Kylian Mbappe will join Real Madrid later this summer when his Paris Saint-Germain contract expires. The 25-year-old has been on Los Blancos' radar for seven years, but they finally got their hands on him.
Since February it has become clear that Mbappe will go to Real Madrid in the summer, but for president Florentino Perez, he was ahead of the game. According to Relieftold Carlo Ancelotti last summer that no striker would be signed to replace Karim Benzema, because all resources were used to close a deal for Mbappe.
Ancelotti had wanted Harry Kane to replace Benzema, but Perez wanted to contain spending so Real Madrid could afford the huge signing bonus Mbappe demanded – believed to be in the region of €100m. It meant Joselu Mato was the only number nine, although it didn't work out too badly as the 34-year-old (signed on loan from Espanyol) scored 18 goals in all competitions, although he was not a regular beginner.
In the end, Perez – as usual – judged things perfectly. Real Madrid secured a La Liga and Champions League double without a big number nine, and Mbappe arrived on a pre-contract. The good times keep rolling in the Spanish capital.
