Does Real Madrid Need Kylian Mbappé?

It is less than two weeks since the January transfer window closed and over 120 days before the summer transfer window opens, but it appears we already have what could be the biggest saga of the upcoming window unfolding before our eyes. 

Kylian Mbappé has been playing football at the top level for at least eight seasons, but it appears he has been linked to a move to Real Madrid for each of those seasons. 

Both parties are in love, yet have never been able to tie the knot in a legal marriage. It has been eight years of flirting and near-marriage experiences. 

In the summer of 2022, most football fans thought that Mbappe to Madrid was sealed after the 25-year-old ran down his contract at Paris Saint-Germain and reportedly spoke with Madrid president Fiorentina Perez. But rather than sign for the famous Spanish club, Mbappe decided to renew his contract at Parc des Princes.

Last season, there were also rumours that he would finally be unveiled at Santiago Bernabeu. However, the move did not materialise for two reasons. Firstly, Madrid wasn’t ready to spend €250 million (£213m/$272m) on a player, who had one year left on his contract. Secondly, Mbappe was not keen on moving, despite hitting out on the club’s management. 

And so, like the former transfer windows, the French forward stayed put at Parc des Princes and is now the main star of the post-Lionel Messi and Neymar PSG. He has scored 30 goals in just 29 games while laying on seven assists for his teammates. So his decision to remain in Paris has been enjoyed by PSG fans, who have seen him bail out the team severally. But Real Madrid ticket buyers dream of watching Mbappe in their all-white next season.

The Latest Story in the Transfer Saga

With Mbappe’s deal at PSG set to expire this summer, there is growing speculation that he will finally be unveiled as a Real Madrid player this summer. 

The French striker was paraded with a ‘Mbappe 2025’ jersey when he renewed his contract in 2022. But the extra year was optional, meaning that the 2018 World Cup winner has been free to negotiate with potential suitors since January 1.

Real Madrid are top of the list of several clubs circling him. According to several outlets, including French transfer market expert Santi Aouna via Footmercato, Mbappe has agreed to join Carlo Ancelotti’s side when his Paris Saint-Germain contract expires this summer.

Although the player has not given any hints as to where he will be playing football next season, he claims he was “very, very motivated for this year”.

The Burning Question

Whether Mbappe stays or leaves PSG this summer, the question on the lips of most fans who are exasperated with the endless Mbappe to Real Madrid saga is ‘Should Real Madrid even bother to sign Mbappe?’

‘What does Madrid need Mbappe for?’

‘Why can’t Madrid just move on?’

We look at four reasons Mbappe to Real Madrid may not work 

Carlo Ancelotti’s opinion 

One of the best people to ask if there is any need for Real Madrid to sign Mbappe is Carlo Ancelotti, the man who is currently leading Madrid’s push towards the La Liga title. 

The Italian tactician was expected to leave Santiago Bernabeu after this season at the expiration of his contract. But rather than leave, Ancelotti committed to a new deal that will keep him at Madrid till 2026. That means that he will be around beyond the summer and will have a huge say in who the club signs in the coming window. 

When asked what he thought about the prospect of Mbappe moving to Madrid for a free transfer in the summer, the Italian appeared to suggest that Los Blancos don’t need the Frenchman.

Speaking to the press after Madrid moved five points clear in the La Liga title race, Ancelotti said: “You keep asking about a player who plays for another team.”

“We already have the best players in the world here. In order: Vini Jr first, Bellingham second, Rodrygo third. Then Kroos, Valverde, Camavinga…”

This is not the first time Ancelotti has waved off suggestions that his club is lacking a striker. In December 2023, he shot down speculations that Madrid will be actively looking for a striker in the January transfer market.

Although most coaches will be eager to coach Mbappe, because, of course, he is Mbappe, Ancelotti seems to think otherwise.

Vinicius Junior’s Form 

Apart from Ancelotti’s opinion on Mbappe, another reason Mbappe to Real Madrid may not make sense is the form of Brazilian winger Vinicius Junior.

The 23-year-old is in the form of his life this season and is Madrid’s creative force despite the strange goal-scoring prowess of Jude Bellingham. He has scored 12 times in 21 appearances while laying on three assists for his teammates.

That output is insignificant compared to Mbappe’s outlay in goals and assists. But Vinicius is thriving in a more difficult league and in a team where several stars are sharing the goal-scoring burden.

Team Balance 

Meanwhile, the fact that Mbappe and Vinicius play in the same position begs the question, ‘Why sign him?’ 

The Frenchman has indeed spent over 70% of his time playing through the middle as a striker in PSG’s system this season, according to Opta.

Yet his touch-zone map from the same website shows that he seldom stays in the centre for too long. 

Mbappe even complained of being told to play as a striker. When Christophe Galtier was still managing PSG, the French captain indicated he was unhappy with being asked to function centrally at the club level, preferring how he plays for France with Olivier Giroud. 

Therefore, it will be hard to integrate him into this Madrid team without disrupting the flow of things unless Ancelotti can work out a system where the Brazilian moves into the middle when Mbappé floats out left.

As it stands, Real Madrid are balanced in attack. The attack led by Vinicius and Rodrigo does not have a Mbappe-sized hole. What Madrid may need is a marauding out-to-out striker like Erling Haaland or Victor Osimhen, and they seem to have found it in Brazilian youngster Endrick.

The financial implications

While it is true that if Mbappe were to join, he would be joining for free, it is equally true that his transfer would command vast resources. Madrid is in a healthy position financially and can squeeze out money to sort his wages.

However, the increasing scrutiny on clubs by UEFA and restrictions by Financial Fair Play rules, added to the failure of the much-publicised European Super League to kick on, means that Madrid wouldn’t be reckless in their spending. 

For now, Los Blancos are focused on rectifying the contracts of their most important players. And so unless top earners like Luka Modric and Toni Kroos leave, adding Mbappe’s wages might be too risky to take.

Mbappe and Real Madrid seem to be a match made in heaven, but whether his move to Madrid will happen remains uncertain and we might get news that he has extended his PSG deal in the coming days.