Agence France Presse
Paris/ Madrid
Real Madrid has reportedly reached a world record deal in principle to sign Kylian Mbappe from Monaco for £180 million (US$210 million), closing one of the hottest transfer sagas of the summer.
Spanish sports daily Marca, citing sources close to the negotiations, said the gifted teenage striker who shot to stardom last season is expected to join Real "in the next few days" on a six year deal.
French newspapers Le Parisien and Nice Matin were quick to announce that Monaco had denied the report. But in the cloak and dagger climate of rumours and innuendo that characterises football's transfer operations, the latest twist revived speculation surrounding the future of Europe's most eligible young star.
Only the rumor mill surrounding Neymar and the massive sums involved has come close to eclipsing the buzz generated by Mbappe in recent weeks.
Neymar, Barcelona's 25 year old Brazilian superstar, is at the centre of frenzied speculation linking him to Paris Saint Germain for a world record £222 million, the price of his buyout clause.
The likelihood of that deal looks to have receded in the past few days as the Mbappe move takes centre stage. And if it goes through, Real will have completed a major coup by snatching one of the most coveted young players in football from under the noses of top European clubs including PSG and Premier League giants including Manchester City.
Real midfielder Casemiro, on tour with the European champion in United States, refused to be drawn on the speculation ahead of Wednesday's friendly clash againts Manchester City in Los Angeles.
"Mbappe is not a Real Madrid player so I can't speak about him," said Casemiro.
But Marca, known to have strong links to the Madrid club, insisted that Real is set to pay between £150 million and £160 million with add ons of between £20 million and £30 million for Mbappe, dwarfing the current world transfer record of £105 million Manchester United paid to lure Paul Pogba from Juventus last year.
Real is looking to fill the void left by Alvaro Morata, who joined Premier League champion Chelsea last Friday in a deal reported to be worth up to £80 million.
Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane, asked about Mbappe last week, said that Real was short one attacker, that's how things are," he said. "We will see how we will manage that."
If he does arrive at Zidane's European championships the 18 year old will be on a net annual salary of "£7 million," Marca said.
Mbappe, under contract at Monaco until 2019, has been wooed so hard by some of Europe's top clubs that Monaco raised the red card and warned the circling predators that they could be reported to FIFA, world soccer's governing body.
"Top European football clubs made contact with Kylian Mbappe and his entourage with out our authorization," Monaco said on their website.
The club said it wanted to remind these cluns that such actions are contrary to French and international regulations.
Mbappe scored six goals in six Champions League starts and 15 in Ligue 1 as he exploded onto the scene in the second half of last season.
On Monday, Monaco lost full back Benjamin Mendy to Manchester City in a world record £52 million deal for a defender.
Elsewhere, Gerard Pique has sparked panic at Barcelona after appearing to backtrack on his "he stay" tweet on teammate Neymar, target of a blockbuster transfer by Paris Saint Germain.
"Doubts, doubts and more doubys," ran the headline Wednesday on the front page of Catalan daily Sport above a photo of the striker lost deep in thought.
PSG are trying to lure the 25 year old Btazilian to France and are ready to pay off his £222 million release clause and make the player the best paid soccer player on the planet.
Last week Pique took to social media to say "he's staying" - but when pressed on the matter Tuesday ahead of a preseason friendly in the US againts Manchester United he was less sure of himself.
"It's a personal opinion from the conversation that I had with him and my intuition," Pique said. "But it's not official," he added. "And it's not for me to say if he's going to stay or not."
The position sent a shudder down the spine at Barcelona.
Paris/ Madrid
Real Madrid has reportedly reached a world record deal in principle to sign Kylian Mbappe from Monaco for £180 million (US$210 million), closing one of the hottest transfer sagas of the summer.
Spanish sports daily Marca, citing sources close to the negotiations, said the gifted teenage striker who shot to stardom last season is expected to join Real "in the next few days" on a six year deal.
French newspapers Le Parisien and Nice Matin were quick to announce that Monaco had denied the report. But in the cloak and dagger climate of rumours and innuendo that characterises football's transfer operations, the latest twist revived speculation surrounding the future of Europe's most eligible young star.
Only the rumor mill surrounding Neymar and the massive sums involved has come close to eclipsing the buzz generated by Mbappe in recent weeks.
Neymar, Barcelona's 25 year old Brazilian superstar, is at the centre of frenzied speculation linking him to Paris Saint Germain for a world record £222 million, the price of his buyout clause.
The likelihood of that deal looks to have receded in the past few days as the Mbappe move takes centre stage. And if it goes through, Real will have completed a major coup by snatching one of the most coveted young players in football from under the noses of top European clubs including PSG and Premier League giants including Manchester City.
Real midfielder Casemiro, on tour with the European champion in United States, refused to be drawn on the speculation ahead of Wednesday's friendly clash againts Manchester City in Los Angeles.
"Mbappe is not a Real Madrid player so I can't speak about him," said Casemiro.
But Marca, known to have strong links to the Madrid club, insisted that Real is set to pay between £150 million and £160 million with add ons of between £20 million and £30 million for Mbappe, dwarfing the current world transfer record of £105 million Manchester United paid to lure Paul Pogba from Juventus last year.
Real is looking to fill the void left by Alvaro Morata, who joined Premier League champion Chelsea last Friday in a deal reported to be worth up to £80 million.
Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane, asked about Mbappe last week, said that Real was short one attacker, that's how things are," he said. "We will see how we will manage that."
If he does arrive at Zidane's European championships the 18 year old will be on a net annual salary of "£7 million," Marca said.
Mbappe, under contract at Monaco until 2019, has been wooed so hard by some of Europe's top clubs that Monaco raised the red card and warned the circling predators that they could be reported to FIFA, world soccer's governing body.
"Top European football clubs made contact with Kylian Mbappe and his entourage with out our authorization," Monaco said on their website.
The club said it wanted to remind these cluns that such actions are contrary to French and international regulations.
Mbappe scored six goals in six Champions League starts and 15 in Ligue 1 as he exploded onto the scene in the second half of last season.
On Monday, Monaco lost full back Benjamin Mendy to Manchester City in a world record £52 million deal for a defender.
Elsewhere, Gerard Pique has sparked panic at Barcelona after appearing to backtrack on his "he stay" tweet on teammate Neymar, target of a blockbuster transfer by Paris Saint Germain.
"Doubts, doubts and more doubys," ran the headline Wednesday on the front page of Catalan daily Sport above a photo of the striker lost deep in thought.
PSG are trying to lure the 25 year old Btazilian to France and are ready to pay off his £222 million release clause and make the player the best paid soccer player on the planet.
Last week Pique took to social media to say "he's staying" - but when pressed on the matter Tuesday ahead of a preseason friendly in the US againts Manchester United he was less sure of himself.
"It's a personal opinion from the conversation that I had with him and my intuition," Pique said. "But it's not official," he added. "And it's not for me to say if he's going to stay or not."
The position sent a shudder down the spine at Barcelona.
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