Former France midfielder Marcel Desailly does not think that a potential transfer to Real Madrid for Kylian Mbappe is a good one.
The 25-year-old will be leaving Paris Saint-Germain at the end of the season after failing to extend his contract at the Parc des Princes and the Santiago Bernabeu is seen as the likely destination as Los Blancos have been linked with the 2018 FIFA World Cup champion over the past few seasons.
Desailly, who is a 1998 World Cup champion, however, does not think such a move will favour Mbappe as the attacking options at Madrid’s disposal at the moment such as Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham, will not make him the number one player.
Desailly rather believes a move out of Europe to the Saudi Arabian Pro League will be a better option for Mbappe. Al-Hilal made a bumper €300million offer for him last summer but it was rejected by the player.
“I’ve said it already [if I were Mbappé], I’d move to another continent,” Desailly told BeIN Sports after PSG’s elimination from the UEFA Champions League by Borussia Dortmund.
“I’m not sure if Real Madrid is the perfect place for him to be. There is Vinicius Jr. on the left-hand side, players who are showing great ability like Jude Bellingham [too].
“[Mbappe] will not be the full number one the way that he wants [to be]. Technically, if you’re thinking about the business of football, I would go to Saudi for €350m for a year, come back next season, the year of the World Cup.”
12 – Paris have the hit the woodwork 12 times in the Champions League this season, with half of these coming against Borussia Dortmund. It’s the highest tally for any team on record in a single edition of the competition (since 2003-04). Frustration. #PSGBVB pic.twitter.com/BVBRyiiHQH
— OptaJean (@OptaJean) May 7, 2024
Another former Real Madrid player, Ruud van Nistelrooy, is however of the view that Mbappe will move to the Bernabeu and does not see him struggling to compete with the other star players.
“I can see Mbappe moving to Real Madrid this year. Kylian is a very intelligent player and boy and I am sure that he thinks that to improve in his career because he is still very young, and to win the Ballon d’Or, he should play for Madrid,” the Dutchman told AS.
“Of course, Mbappe can play with Vini and Rodrygo. Carlo gives a lot of freedom to attackers. Mbappe, Vini, Rodrygo, Bellingham will all keep switching positions during the game, and it will be unstoppable.”
Mbappe will leave PSG as their outright top scorer this season, with 43 goals and 10 assists in 46 competitive games currently to his name.
While he will not have a chance to win the Champions League following Tuesday’s elimination, Mbappe will have a chance at winning a domestic treble having already lifted the Ligue 1 and Trophee des Champions.
PSG are also in the final of the Coupe de France where they will take on Olympique Lyon on May 25.
