Emmanuel Macron shared a light-hearted moment with Kylian Mbappe regarding his rumoured move to Real Madrid during a state dinner at the Elysee Palace.
Mbappe, accompanied by the Emir of Qatar, was invited to the dinner on Tuesday, where he had the opportunity to meet with French President Macron.
Upon his arrival, Macron is reported to have jestingly remarked to Mbappe, “You’re going to create problems for us,” with a smile on his face. This remark is believed to allude to Mbappe’s anticipated transfer to Real Madrid from Paris Saint-Germain, which is owned by Qatar.
Mbappe’s potential move to Madrid has been the subject of long-standing speculation, with Macron previously playing a role in influencing the forward’s future. Macron disclosed that he advised Mbappe against joining Los Blancos in 2021, encouraging him to remain in the French capital.
Despite Macron’s efforts last summer to keep Mbappe at PSG, it now seems likely that the 25-year-old will make the switch to the Santiago Bernabeu during the upcoming transfer window.
Macron also spoke about the 2022 Qatar World Cup, which saw Mbappe and France beaten in the final by Argentina: The French president said: “There are also so many beautiful memories, in less serious but as vibrant moments as this 2022 World Cup. Kylian Mbappe’s extraordinary game, the memory of (Randal) Kolo Muani’s saved shot, which still remains bitter in French hearts.
“But that’s the thing with the king of sports. They have had a fantastic tournament, with what I think was the most spectacular final in history. France was there with its fans, its security forces, its companies like RATP and its footballers.”
Madrid has not yet made an official announcement regarding Mbappe’s signing, but the confirmation is anticipated once it is certain that Los Blancos cannot face PSG in this season’s Champions League. Upon his move to the Spanish giants, Mbappe is expected to receive a world-record signing fee for a five-year contract.
Meanwhile, PSG is already scouting for a replacement and has been linked with several players, including Napoli’s Victor Osimhen and Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford.