Speaking in an interview with L’Equipe (h/t AS), La Liga president Javier Tebas has claimed that Kylian Mbappe has a 99% chance of signing for Real Madrid now that his exit from PSG is confirmed.
Mbappe to Real Madrid appears only to be a matter of time now as the pace of the operation has picked up rapid speed after the Frenchman’s departure from Paris was confirmed earlier this month.
Talks over an agreement are understood to be in the final phase, with the image rights issue being close to resolved.
Tebas on Mbappe deal
And, now, further fueling the fire, Tebas, who has not shied away from talking about Mbappe’s move to Real Madrid in the past, has once again opened up on the speculations.
“Knowing that he is leaving PSG, there is a 99% chance that Mbappe will sign for Real Madrid. But I don’t know if he’s already signed,” Tebas stated.
Tebas then went on to add that it would be great news not only for Real Madrid but for Spanish football if Mbappe arrives at the Santiago Bernabeu, saying:
“Of course, it’s great news for Real Madrid and Spanish football. He is one of the best players in the world. From my point of view, Bellingham, Haaland, and Mbappe are the three most dominant players on the planet, and two of them are at Real Madrid.”
Tebas believes Mbappe to Real Madrid will help La Liga. (Photo by PAU BARRENA/AFP via Getty Images)
Given that a number of La Liga clubs are facing wage bill issues, Tebas was asked if Real Madrid are in a position to accommodate Mbappe’s massive salary, to which he responded:
“Yes, Real Madrid are a club in an optimal financial situation. The president and the general manager are very good managers, but they are very bad when they want to organise new competitions [alluding to the Super League].
“Financially, they are very reactive. At the moment, their financial results are very good and they can spend much more than they spend. Madrid have been very prudent financially and have prepared for the signing of Mbappe.”
On whether Real Madrid have to sell any players to accommodate Mbappe, Tebas said: “No. Their strategy is not short-term. They don’t have to sell anyone to afford Mbappe. They really don’t.”
It is no secret that Tebas does not share the best of equations with Real Madrid president Florentino Perez. And when asked if he had spoken to the Los Blancos supremo regarding the Mbappe deal, the La Liga chief said:
“He hasn’t spoken to me for three years. But I am delighted that they have signed Mbappe. I’m taking advantage of this interview to send him the message that I’m delighted that Real Madrid are making this kind of signing to build a team of this stature.”
On how the signing of Mbappe would impact La Liga, Tebas said: “Signing big players is a boost, but it’s not essential. Of course, it’s better to have big names. Having coaches like Mourinho or Guardiola is useful.
“But players like Ronaldo, Neymar or Messi have left and La Liga is still doing very well. But Mbappe will help us, in the coming years, to consolidate everything we have already achieved.”
On the Super League
Tebas did not shy away from taking a parting shot at Perez over the Super League project, as he said: “The problem is not Real Madrid, but Florentino Pérez and his very personal vision. Every day there are more and more Real Madrid fans who don’t like the Super League line.
“Florentino knows how to manage a club very well, but he knows nothing about managing competitions. They are not going to succeed.
“The A22 project, which is Florentino Pérez’s project, has to get permission from UEFA. And they have not yet done so. The format they have presented goes against two essential values of the European sports model: solidarity and meritocracy.”
