Real Madrid board member Jose Manuel Otero Lastre has revealed the club’s intentions to pursue Kylian Mbappe in 2024.
Kylian Mbappe was strongly linked with a move to Real Madrid during the summer transfer window after he refused to sign a contract extension with Paris Saint-Germain.
Amid fears he could leave for free, PSG put the Frenchman up for sale during the summer but no formal offer from Madrid ever arrived.
During his appearance on the Remontada Blanca Twitch channel (as reported by AS), Otero, a two-time board member who has worked alongside president Florentino Perez since 2002, answered plenty of questions about Madrid’s plans for Mbappe.
”Mbappe had and did not have the opportunity to sign for Real Madrid this summer. To come, he would have had to give up some very high bonuses that he had already agreed with Paris Saint-Germain. Plus, there was a transfer fee to pay. The amount that would have had to be paid to have signed him a year earlier was crazy, even though Madrid were broken in Benzema’s position,” Otero said.
José Manuel Otero (Real Madrid board member): "The amount that would have had to be paid to have signed Mbappé a year earlier was crazy. It didn't make sense to sign Mbappé a year earlier, even though Madrid were broken in [Karim] Benzema's position." pic.twitter.com/IAxQfAQKQP
— Madrid Universal (@MadridUniversal) October 10, 2023
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He further added that he hopes Mbappe’s mindset will align with that of Jude Bellingham. ”I trust that he will come and will achieve glory when he comes to Real Madrid, he will definitely win a Champions League someday.”
Ortega mentioned that PSG’s strength had diminished because exceptional players were no longer part of the team.
”The expectation is that an affirmative response will be given when he becomes a free agent. The belief is held that Mbappe was destined to be part of Real Madrid.
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“If we had taken a wrong step with Mbappe, PSG would have tried to react against Real Madrid. Madrid knows perfectly well what it can and should do. If Mbappe comes, he will come inside the law. Without anyone being able to accuse us of having made a pact,” Otero concluded.
🚨🗣 José Manuel Otero (member of the Real Madrid board): "If we had taken a wrong step with Mbappé, PSG would have tried to react against Real Madrid. Real Madrid know perfectly well what they can and should do. If Mbappé comes – I hope in 2024 – he will come in a legal way,… pic.twitter.com/JeGfKDkvzx
— Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) October 10, 2023
