Silly season is almost upon us again and there's one transfer that's set to dominate this summer's window – Kylian Mbappe.
The 18-year-old has burst onto the French and European scene in some style during 2016/17 and AS Monaco's swashbuckling style has been a perfect accompaniment to Mbappe's razor-sharp attacking instincts.
Despite his youth, the player certainly knows where the goal is – the game against Juventus aside, he's proved it time and again this season in the Champions League - the true barometer of greatness.
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However, let's sound a note of caution at this point. Was the football world not falling over themselves to lavish praise on Anthony Martial, then at Monaco, just two years ago? Having played less than fifty games for the team from the principality, Manchester United decided to dig deep and make Martial the most expensive teenager in history, spending an unheard of £36m for a 19-year-old.
After a super start for the Red Devils, injuries and loss of form have contributed to Martial falling behind Marcus Rashford et al in the pecking order at the Theatre of Dreams.
That hasn't stopped United from going back again and, allegedly, offering in the region of a quite astonishing £72m for Mbappe. Even taking inflation into account, a doubling of the current record is moving things to a whole new level. What's more, Monaco have turned it down, suggesting that business will start at £100m!
Jose Mourinho remains interested in the player but whether United will play ball at the price quoted is another question entirely.
Paris Saint-Germain have already stated that they will pay whatever is necessary to secure Mbappe’s signature for two reasons. One, to continue raising their own profile and see marketing and revenue streams go through the roof, but, as importantly, to keep the player in French football.
For far too long now, the big names of the beautiful game are turning their backs on Ligue 1. Falcao has enjoyed a renaissance there but it’s doubtful he would be at Monaco if he received offers from elsewhere – particularly Spain.
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In any event, Mbappe has set his heart on moving to Real Madrid, but his marker is that he will only sign if he gets regular football. He’s not interested in playing second fiddle to anyone; not even the famed trio of BBC – Benzema, Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo. Some statement of intent from one so young.
For Florentino Perez, it would be another chance to flex Real’s financial muscle. To give Los Blancos another ‘Galactico’ to worship. Forget the vulgarity of such a deal, if it means Real stay at the top of the sports pages and in the headlines, Perez will work incessantly to bring the transfer to a successful conclusion.
Also Read: Wenger: I went to Mbappe's house to try to sign him
The issue for me is that, for all of Mbappe’s confidence on and off the pitch, he’s not the finished article. Is he truly ready to step into the lion’s den that is the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu?
He has been ripping it up in the French top flight and hats off to him for so doing, but managing the same week-in, week-out at an entirely different level to what he’s been used to, can pose questions that he might not be able to answer at this juncture. He only needs to look to Martial to see how quickly things can change.
Of course, there’s always the argument that the player doesn’t set the price and the market rate is the market rate, but it’s human nature to allow that to play on your mind. Even if there was not a problem for a youngster that is meeting each target asked of him to this point, who out of Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema does Zinedine Zidane drop? Perez isn’t going to spend £100m+ for a benchwarmer.
Also Read: 5 reasons why Kylian Mbappe should choose Real Madrid over Barcelona
For their part, Monaco are hitting all of the right notes and suggesting that they’ll allow Mbappe to leave after one more season. If the teenager has any sense, he’ll take them up on the offer, continue to grow for another 12 months before being launched into a 24/7 spotlight.
Sometimes money can – and should – take second place to education and development because football is littered with Anthony Martial’s - players that were handed too much, too soon.
Kylian Mbappe needs to ensure he’s not just another statistic.
