Kylian Mbappe’s new deal with Paris Saint Germain comes along with rumored benefits.
After months of speculation that the Frenchman would join Spanish side Real Madrid, the transfer saga ended with a twist. Prior to PSG’s season finale against Metz, Kylian Mbappe stepped in front of the Parc des Princes crowd to roars. The influence he has over the fans will reflect over the club.
The money exchanged is no surprise. The three-year deal sees him earn up to 50 million euros, or around $54 million, in each season in the French capital. Plus, PSG paid Mbappe and his agent 150 million euros, $160 million, simply as a sign-on fee, according to Guillem Balague. The 23-year-old likely deserves such high wages and funding. His raw talent and ever-present room for development are simply too good to ignore.
Rather, Mbappe’s rumored benefits are the things that turn the heads of soccer fans. Part of this new deal with PSG was the departure of PSG sporting director Leonardo. That, in addition to the arrival of new players, was key for Mbappe’s staying in France. This effectively gives the star major influence regarding all of the club’s hiring matters.
The likely successor to Leonardo is Luis Campos. Mbappe is keen on bringing in the transfer guru. In fact, Campos was the sporting director at AS Monaco when Mbappe burst on to the scene in 2017. Amid these actions, Maurico Pochettino could also be in the firing line. Both player and manager failed to see eye-to-eye. A potential replacement could be former Real Madrid manager and French icon Zinedine Zidane.
The threats of Mbappe’s rumored benefits
In a press conference discussing the deal, Kylian Mbappe was clear and direct with his role at PSG. He claimed he will “not go above the role of a footballer.”
Still, the recent changes to PSG surrounding Mbappe’s stay come as a danger. The player is seemingly able to say when the manager gets sacked. Plus, developing a close relationship with Campos could allow Mbappe to have a say in which teammates go on sale or come in. Managers will want to cater to Mbappe’s needs to ensure they keep their most prized possession Mbappe and their job safe.
There is also the consequence of affecting the team’s chemistry. Mbappe is a great talent, but his career is quite short of teammates Neymar, Sergio Ramos and Lionel Messi. These players, and those like Cristiano Ronaldo, Robert Lewandowski or Luis Suarez never held this much power.
For a club that lacks the historical success of European rivals, PSG could be breaking in a new era of player-oriented control. The impact on the game is unprecedented. However, players with the talent and potential of Kylian Mbappe do not exactly come around often. Plus, the dependence on money to be successful in the modern era changed how teams go about finding ways to win.
Mbappe was the story entering the 2022 summer transfer rumor mill. With his saga over, the focus now turns to how PSG caters to their star for the next three seasons at least.
Photo credit: Getty Images
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