‘Welcome to Madrid!’: Spanish papers are whipped into a frenzy as Kylian Mbappe is spotted in the capital on visit with PSG team-mate Achraf Hakimi… with Real increasingly confident they will land him in the summer
- Kylian Mbappe paid a visit to Madrid as rumours of summer move to Real grow
- Spanish champions are increasingly confident they will sign the PSG striker
- Mbappe is visiting the Spanish capital with his team-mate Achraf Hakimi
- It certainly excited the Spanish papers, who proclaimed ‘Welcome to Madrid’
Kylian Mbappe was spotted in Madrid on Monday amid strong rumours he’ll be signing for Real over the summer – and his presence has whipped the Spanish media into a frenzy.
Both the front covers of Marca and AS feature the Instagram image Mbappe posted with his Paris Saint-Germain team-mate Achraf Hakimi. He captioned it: ‘OFF’.
That came after he was spotted at a restaurant in the Spanish capital, exciting the Real fanbase as they anticipate the big-money arrival of the France striker.
Kylian Mbappe’s visit to Madrid has certainly excited the Spanish newspapers on Tuesday
‘Welcome’ ran the headline on the front cover of AS after Mbappe’s visit with Achraf Hakimi
‘Mbappe: In Madrid!’ shouted Marca’s front page headline. They said Mbappe was spending several days in Madrid with his friend Hakimi and that his wish is still to move to the Bernabeu this summer.
However, they add there will be no movement on the deal until PSG have completed their Ligue 1 campaign, with two matches left to play against Montpellier and Metz.
AS go with the headline ‘Welcome’ and say his signing will be announced in July and he will be presented prior to Real’s pre-season tour of the United States.
There seems to be real optimism from Real’s perspective that they will sign the 23-year-old this summer, though reports out of France have suggested Mbappe is poised to sign a new deal with PSG.
Marca report that the groundwork is laid from the perspective of the Spanish champions and Mbappe will sign the contracts very soon.
Mbappe posted this picture with Hakimi and hair stylist Brice Tchaga on his Instagram account
Mbappe has scored 35 goals and contributed 23 assists for Paris Saint-Germain this season
Out of respect for his current employers, Mbappe won’t publicly comment on his next move until after the end of PSG’s season on May 21.
His time at the Parc des Princes has fizzled out somewhat after they were knocked out of the Champions League last-16 by Real following a dramatic collapse in the second leg. Karim Benzema scored a 17-minute hat-trick to sink them.
Although Mauricio Pochettino’s side have won the league title by a handsome margin, that will be their only piece of silverware this season and the manager’s future remains in doubt.
Le Parisien reported last week that PSG and Mbappe had reached an agreement in principle on a two-year contract extension, with the option of another year.
Reports in France said Kylian Mbappe had reached an agreement to stay at PSG
But his mother, Fayza Lamara, quickly took to Twitter to shoot down the claims
Real Madrid and Carlo Ancelotti have long been linked with a move for the France striker
It would see the player pocket an £85million loyalty bonus and earn a £43m-a-season net salary. However, the player’s mother, Fayza Lamari, refuted that any agreement with PSG had been made.
Ironically, the PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi is also in Madrid this week for a summit of the European Club Association.
Real, having already secured the LaLiga championship, also have the Champions League final to look forward on May 28 when they take on Liverpool in Paris.
