As the clock ticks into 2022, PSG's French striker will become a free agent and available to join the club that he has been flirting with for a long time.
Kylian Mbappé will be a free agent as of midnight tonight. The bells will ring in the new year and the French star - whose contract expires on 31 June 2022 - will be available to negotiate with any other club from that point, and that includes the option of signing a pre-contract for the following season. Real Madrid fans are already licking their lips.
Mbappé free agent from January 2022
Everything points to the fact that, after years of waiting, both the player and Los Blancos will be able to fulfil their dream and join forces. The deal, which has been a long time in the making, could be officially signed very soon, although the plan is for it to be announced after the end of the season so as not to generate conflict with PSG and their fans.
The striker has been dropping hints for months about a move, one that appears very close to happening. The first of those flirtations was just after the summer, during a national team break in an interview with L'Equipe. He explained his frustration and disappointment that a move to Madrid had not yet been secured. "When you have the ambition to leave, if you stay, you are not happy," he added.
Then a few weeks later, he restated that 2021 had been a frustrating year because, among other things, he had not been able to complete his move to the LaLiga side.
However, the most obvious hint came recently in the form of a comic book. In it, one approved by the player, it tells the story of his childhood and teenage years until the point when he became a professional. In many of the cartoons he refers to Madrid as the club of his dreams.
Mbappé's best day and PSG admission
"The best day of my life,” he said after being invited by the club to visit Valdebebas and the Santiago Bernabéu. As if that wasn't enough, in another he stated that he would play in white, after spending time with PSG. A prophecy.
He has since made two public appearances.
The first was an interview for Amazon with his compatriot Thierry Henry. In it, the former player constantly points to the fact that Mbappé is able to speak Spanish. Although not reacting to that, he seems comfortable with it. As it concluded, Henry said goodbye with a 'see you later' in perfect Spanish, sparking laughter from both of them.
The next came on CNN and La Gazzetta dello Sport a few days ago. In the first he let slip that this would be his last six months in Paris.
"For all the respect I have for the fans, the club, my team-mates and the staff, I have to play 100 per cent for the six months I have left," he said. In the Italian newspaper, he stated that he would have to "address the situation because time is passing."
Now clear favourites for this season's title, there will be an extra sweet tastes to the 12 grapes being eaten tonight in some part of the Spanish capital. And they'll hope the coming year brings them all they wish for.
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MukhtarAyyub
9
we are all waiting for uh