Making PSG humble, making Real Madrid wait, Mbappe is showing his true power.

Unlike most people associated with Paris Saint-Germain, Kylian Mbappe was happy during Saturday’s Ligue 1 match against Lorient. While those sitting around him at the Parc des Princes were feeling very frustrated as they watched the champions try – and fail – to break through last season’s 10th-placed team’s defence, Mbappe was watched. saw many times laughing with Ousmane Dembele, who recently joined PSG. And why not? The match did nothing but prove that he is incredibly important to PSG.

The day before, Luis Enrique had stated he still hoped for an amicable resolution to the contractual confrontation between Mbappe and Nasser Al-Khelaifi & Company – but the new coach insisted: “The philosophy of this club is very clear: the club stands above everything and I support that 100 per cent.”

Luis Enrique’s words of heart and sincerity are undeniably admirable – but simply not applicable in this case. The events of the past few days have made it clear that Kylian Mbappe is bigger than Paris Saint-Germain. For now, the reality is that he’s probably the most powerful player in the world.

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Mbappe knows well about his self-worth

The next morning, having spent some terrifying moments in the future without Mbappe, PSG announced that the France captain had been welcomed back with open arms.

To the casual observer, that might seem like an amazing change. Remember that PSG seemed to have stood up to Mbappe. When a letter confirming his intention to leave the club in 2024 unexpectedly – and conveniently – leaked to the press, Al-Khelaifi insisted that Mbappe would have to find himself a new club before the transfer window. end. PSG understandably has no intention of losing the world’s most valuable player for free next summer.

The situation has become so toxic that PSG have somewhat pettily removed Mbappe posters in and around their stadium, stopped selling his number jerseys in the club store, and also used The words of responsibility totaled by claiming that if Mbappe left without a transfer fee, it would lead to “a wave of job cuts”.

They also accepted an offer from Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal with the desire to force Mbappe to agree. However, Mbappe has refused to discuss that transfer. Why? Because he can. He’s the sought-after, the player who holds all the cards here – and he knows it. This is a young breakthrough talent who clearly realizes his worth, especially for PSG.

“pillars of the club project”

Al-Khelaifi named Mbappe as “the mainstay of the club project” last year for a reason. They are completely dependent on him, not just from perspecive in terms of sport. His goals can be substituted. As former sporting director Leonardo points out, Liverpool, Bayern Munich and Chelsea have won the Champions League since Mbappe joined PSG – so winning the trophy without him is entirely possible.

But the star-loving PSG owner clearly doesn’t believe a club with no rivals in France can maintain its importance on the global stage without a player of Mbappe’s status. – who is very much loved by young fans from all backgrounds – and certainly not at this time.

With Lionel Messi and Neymar already leaving PSG this summer, Mbappe is their ultimate – and most important – icon to their brand. They could build a better, cohesive and better-performing squad with the proceeds from the sale of Mbappe, a team capable of fulfilling their dream of conquering Europe, but without a World Cup winner. , they won’t be as appealing as a marketing proposition and business opportunity, or even just as social following.

Mbappe and his team know it, which is why they can sit idly by and distract PSG.

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Make Real Madrid wait

Because Real Madrid is not standing still. Mbappe led Florentino Perez down a wrong path last summer, but the Spaniard is still clearly interested in signing him. He was even willing to wait until next year to do so.

However, it is Mbappe who decides whether and when he will move to Madrid. He could sign an extension at PSG, but if he did, it would again be on his own terms. Don’t even be surprised if he ‘convinces’ PSG to include a buy-back clause in 2024 – for a fee he knows Madrid will be willing to pay.

With that said, Mbappe is showing control not only over his career – but also over the transfer market – which has never been seen before.

He had his share of luck in that. Cristiano Ronaldo had to move to Saudi Arabia because no one wanted him in Europe anymore. Lionel Messi was forced to leave the Camp Nou due to Barcelona’s financial problems. But Mbappe, he is in a position to do as he pleases, and while he decides what is best for him, several other players are stuck at the airport awaiting departure. If Mbappe stays at PSG, Madrid simply need to sign a striker this summer. And PSG, of course, will need to find a replacement if he leaves.

Either way, Mbappe is prime potential for a string of consecutive disturbances as multiple strikers switch clubs.

Make PSG fear the pressure

Anyway, he doesn’t care about that. For now, his only priority is to see what else PSG will offer for him to sign a contract extension. Last summer, they tried their best for him, while this time they replaced Neymar – with whom Mbappe had a rift – with his France team-mate and close friend Dembele. There are still more Mbappe-approved moves that will take place at the Parc des Princes.

Of course, the club tried to give the impression that a once-broken relationship had been repaired thanks to a “very constructive and positive conversation” between the two parties, which resulted in “allowing the player to participate in the game”. training with the first team” on Sunday morning. But in reality, PSG, a team that was desperate and indecisive, panicked under the pressure and decided to give Mbappe everything he wanted again.

In an age of player power, no one is more powerful than Kylian Mbappe.