KEY POINTS

  • Real Madrid upped their bid for Kylian Mbappe to $235 million as the transfer deadline loomed
  • Paris Saint-Germain made no response to Real Madrid's latest inquiry
  • The decision has caused onlookers to be critical of the club's decision

Real Madrid was keen on signing Kylian Mbappe this summer so much that they offered a massive €200 million ($235 million) bid to Paris Saint-Germain.

Mbappe has been on Real Madrid’s list of transfer targets this season, and the club has made two offers for him during this transfer window: €160 million ($188 million) and €180 million ($212 million).

Both offers were immediately rebuffed by the French side.

Transfer maestro Fabrizio Romano reported that Paris Saint-Germain had received the most recent bid, but there was no answer from them, indicating their non-willingness to sell Mbappe.

The decision to decline a bid is a head-scratching one for Paris Saint-Germain fans as Mbappe’s deal is set to expire next summer and he could leave the Ligue 1 juggernaut on a free transfer if they cannot come to terms on an extension this season.

Mbappe has never been ashamed of his love for Real Madrid when he admitted in the past that it was his childhood dream to play for Los Blancos.

That move may have to wait until the following summer, thanks to Paris Saint-Germain’s decision, or lack thereof, to not respond to Real Madrid’s latest transfer inquiry.

This transfer window saw Cristiano Ronaldo make a shocking return to Manchester United after a “done deal” with Manchester City, Romelu Lukaku joining Chelsea, and the French side signed Lionel Messi on a free transfer from Barcelona.

A few weeks after Messi’s arrival to the French capital, Mbappe expressed his desire to leave the club, according to the team’s sporting director Leonardo Araujo.

Mbappe was seen by the club as a part of the future when they brought in Messi and Neymar opted to extend his stay at Paris Saint-Germain until 2025.

Club president Nasser Al-Khelaifi held steadfast to the belief that Mbappe would be interested to stay after revamping their attacking group.

Only time will tell whether Paris Saint-Germain’s UEFA Champions League Title-or-bust gamble in keeping Mbappe will pay off.

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