Paris (AFP)

The first offer of 160 million euros from Real Madrid to recruit Kylian Mbappé, reported Wednesday by the press, relaunches the soap opera around the star of Paris SG, which promises new developments before the end of the transfer window on August 31.

.

Why is the extension being delayed?

A year ago, PSG launched the big maneuvers to extend the contracts of Neymar and Mbappé, which expire in June 2022.

But if the Brazilian gave his agreement in May to stay until 2025, the French still keeps his answer.

"What I want is to win, to feel in a place where I can really win, where there is a solid project around me," said the player on Canal +, before the Euro.

The striker has been heard, with the arrivals this summer of Achraf Hakimi, Georginio Wijnaldum, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Sergio Ramos and, above all, Lionel Messi.

PSG recruits Achraf Hakimi, Georginio Wijnaldum, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Sergio Ramos and Lionel Messi during their presentation at the Parc des Princes, August 14, 2021 GEOFFROY VAN DER HASSELT AFP / Archives

Mbappé "has no excuse to do something other" than to stay, launched President Nasser Al-Khelaïfi after the recruitment of the Argentine genius.

Today, the world champion is discreet.

He is going through this period of rumors with "peace of mind", said his coach Mauricio Pochettino.

.

Does Real have the means to welcome him?

The amount of the first Madrid offer contrasts with the prevailing austerity.

The "White House" held out during the pandemic and presented for 2020-21 accounts in the green of 800,000 euros.

With the departures this summer of Sergio Ramos and Raphaël Varane, Real has also reduced its payroll.

At the same time, he has raked in nearly € 75million from the sales of the French defender to Manchester United and Martin Odegaard to Arsenal.

"Real Madrid could recruit Mbappé. He would have to separate from other players," LaLiga president Javier Tebas assured Spanish channel GolTV in early June.

"But the arrival of Mbappé would be very good for LaLiga," added the manager.

.

Does PSG have the means to say no?

If Mbappé does not extend his contract, he risks leaving next summer without financial compensation for PSG, who had spent 180 million euros to bring him from Monaco in 2017.

In this case, selling him this summer represents the last opportunity for the club if they want to recover the money.

The pandemic (behind closed doors, TV rights crisis in France ...) has strained the finances of Parisians, who ended 2019-20 with a pre-tax loss of 124.9 million euros, according to the latest report from the DNCG (National Directorate of Control and Management).

This forces PSG to sell this summer.

For the moment, he has received only 7 million euros (plus any bonuses) for Mitchel Bakker, who left for Leverkusen.

PSG President Nasser Al-Khelaifi, August 11, 2021 at the Parc des Princes STEPHANE DE SAKUTIN AFP / Archives

But Paris has a very powerful shareholder, the Qatari QSI, capable of absorbing the deficit, in a context of easing of European financial fair play.

In addition, after the arrival of the superstar Messi, "PSG could resume its forward march in terms of revenue growth, in terms of sponsorship, merchandising and ticketing", explains to AFP Christophe Lepetit, economist at the CDES of Limoges.

What to help him to keep Mbappé.

.

Why do Mbappé and Real have such a special relationship?

Between Kylian Mbappé and Real, the story has already been going on for many years.

Fan of Cristiano Ronaldo, Mbappé, child, had posters of the Portuguese, Madrid time (2009-2018), in his room.

In 2012, Zinédine Zidane, then the club's sporting director, suggested to the young 14-year-old striker to come and spend a few days at Real's facilities.

PSG striker Kylian Mbappé against Real Madrid, November 26, 2019 at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in the Champions League GABRIEL BOUYS AFP / Archives

"(My parents) wanted me to start my career in France, to have a French education (...) Going to Spain, even if it was with Zidane, it remained another country, another culture", Mbappé confided about this episode in an interview with L'Obs in early June.

Since then, Madrid have continued to send him winks, the most recent being signed Toni Kroos, in mid-August, in his podcast: "Maybe a player from Paris will join us ..."

© 2021 AFP