Real Madrid have reportedly made a huge decision regarding their potential signing of Kylian Mbappe, with the reasons for the big call seemingly being revealed too.
The France forward has been heavily linked with a move to Los Blancos in the past few months, especially with his contract at Paris Saint-Germain set to run out at the end of the current campaign.
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Mbappe is believed to have rejected the opportunity to extend his stay at the Parc des Princes by one year, even foregoing an £87 million (R1.9 billion) loyalty bonus he would have received at the end of his current deal.
It had previously been suggested that the Spanish giants would wait until January to begin pre-contract negotiations in order to land the player as a free agent at the end of this season.
Now, however, the LALIGA giants are said to have made a U-turn in their pursuit of the forward based on three crucial reasons, according to Cadena SER h/t GOAL.
First, the 2018 FIFA World Cup winner is said to be requesting an annual salary of more than £17 million (R385 million), as well as a bonus for signing with the 14-time UEFA Champions League winners.
Secondly, his age is said to play a major role in Real's decision to not proceed with the deal. By the end of the current season, the Frenchman would be 25 years old, closing in on 26. While many may not perceive that as old, it is believed to go against Los Blancos' current policy of signing players under the age of 23.
The club signed Aurelien Tchouameni when he was 22, Eduardo Camavinga joined the side in 2021 and is now only 20 years old, while their newest midfield additions Jude Bellingham and Arda Güler are 20 and 18 years of age, respectively.
Lastly, Mbappe's decision to snub Real in 2022 has reportedly given him a bad image among club members, with the LALIGA side now worried about the effect spending such large amounts of money on his signing would have on its financial situation as well as the disposition of the fans.
However, according to RMC Sport, the information reported by Cadena SER was leaked by Real themselves in order to cover their bases in case they are unsuccessful in signing the Les Bleus superstar.
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The French publication further claims that Los Blancos are still interested in signing the 24-year-old at the end of his current PSG contract, although it did add that some club executives still have a bad taste in their mouths after he turned down a move to the Santiago Bernabeu last year.
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