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The ongoing transfer saga involving Kylian Mbappe keeps on getting more dramatic every other day. With one week left for the summer transfer season to conclude, Real Madrid finally made an official bid of €160m for the PSG forward on Tuesday. As expected, the bid was turned down by the French club without any hesitation considering the fact that they had spent €180 for securing the services of player few years back.
However, things are getting slightly tricky for both the clubs involved here. Mbappe has refused to sign any further contract with PSG. Meanwhile, the 22-year-old has set his eyes on playing for Real Madrid since quite a few years as it is claimed to be his childhood dream to play for the Spanish club. With his current contract at PSG set to expire at the end of next season, the French giants face a huge risk of letting go off their star player for free few months later.
PSG are not happy with Real Madrid's attitude in the whole transfer saga
Despite all these circumstances, PSG have repeatedly refused to sell the player as per the conditions of Real Madrid. They have set a particular amount of price for the player which is expected to be around €200. Leonardo Araujo, PSG's sporting director, also opened up on the transfer saga and revealed the reason behind their decision to reject Real Madrid's initial bid.
In a conversation with L’Equipe, Parisien & Marca, Leonardo said, "Kylian Mbappe wants to join Real Madrid and we will not hold him back. We said 'No' to Madrid's first offer, but if our conditions are met, we'll see. Real Madrid have been disrespectful, incorrect, illegal and unacceptable. We’re not accepting €160m. If he wants to go, it will be for our final conditions”.
We have no plan to talk with Real Madrid again: Leonardo Araujo
The 51-year-old also added that they are not willing to negotiate with the club regarding the transfer fees and will only accept a bid what they have demanded. He said, "We have no plan to talk with Real Madrid again. Will Real Madrid raise the offer? I don't know. I only know what I said in relation to Madrid's attitude. They have been working on Mbappé for two years, talking to everyone, the family”.
Leonardo confirmed that PSG have never opened the door for departure of Kylian Mbappe. However, he added that if the player wants to leave, he has to leave on their terms and not on the terms of the other club. He also claimed that it is Real Madrid's plan to eventually sign the player for free next season.
“It seems like a strategy to try to get a 'No' from us, to show that they have tried everything and to wait for a year to get Mbappé for free. Kylian always promised he would NOT leave for free," said Leonardo.
With the transfer window set to end on August 31, the big question is - Will Real Madrid raise their bid to seal the signing of Mbappe before the end of transfer window? The football world is certainly set for a dramatic week in transfer market.