I am recovering on Mbappé’s behalf a farewell formula that was widely used among us a long time ago, and that Del Bosque still often uses, our great classic among the classics. “Au revoire, which Voltaire said, throwing his beret in the air” would be the complete version. A self-parody nod to our condition as a country without a polyglot vocation.
Mbappé says goodbye to Paris, which is where I’m going. I already announced to you that you would be the first to know, he came to tell people about him, although by now we all know it, and we also know that his destiny will finally be Madrid. He has spent seven years there, and let’s say that the long delay of that long-foreseen signing has been worse for him than for the club that now welcomes him, just look at how life has gone for both of them without the counterpart. This could have happened seven years ago, when he moved from Monaco to PSG after speaking with Madrid, but then Florentino still trusted Bale, whom Mourinho would have happily taken to United, and Mbappé did not want to be a substitute waiting for a spot. on the BBC. Then he was close to it three years ago, but then they retained him with an unprecedented contract: 180 million as a renewal bonus, 72 million per season, plus a growing loyalty bonus of 70, 80 and 90 million. That plus Macron’s turre, which convinced him that it was a state asset.
It has been seven years without the dreamed of the Champions League or the Ballon d’Or. Since he has won a World Cup and has been second in another, we can conclude that his problem has been more with PSG, that artificial aggregate of money and megastars, than with himself. . He now arrives, still at a very good age (25 years old), to a club that enshrines the traditional values of football and makes them prevail over the wave of nouveau riche that threatens it. He will arrive earning less money, but PSG could no longer pay him like that because Al-Khelaifi, president of the ECA, could not continue giving such a song, nor do they allow waste in the Premier any more. Now, with the market unchanged, Madrid can bring him because over any other offer they can add their incomparable prestige as a club. But you won’t come barefoot: the Community has duly approved a variant of the ‘Beckham Law’ that will alleviate its cost.
Mbappé arrives at his place. The best player in the best club. Of course: he will have to admit that he has lost more with the delay than Madrid, that he does not come as ‘Queen of the Seas’, that he is going to find teammates who have won several Champions Leagues while he has not made his debut. And there is a Ballon d’Or winner, Modric, who accepts many substitute minutes without question.
Vinicius made a significant statement after the Bayern game. “In this team we defend all the forwards,” he said, and expressly cited Bellingham and Rodrygo. It was interpreted as a message to Mbappé, who arrives with a bad previous fight, because there he has allowed himself too many freedoms. The image of him against Borussia was not that of a leader hungry for glory, but rather of a spoiled star waiting for a successful blow that would elevate him to glory. Of course, ten months of putting up with Luis Enrique could weigh on his mind, which must not be a small thing.
I don’t think his problem is the position, whether the left or the center (the left is owned by Vinicius, increasingly closer to him as a footballer) but rather the attitude. He will have to be infected with the work ethic and unity of purpose that Di Stéfano implemented after his long and fruitful time at the club. For the rest, one can only predict a magnificent future for Madrid with a huge front line of very young people, with years ahead of them to share matches and training sessions and adapt to their game.
And the Games? The intrigue is whether he will insist and whether Madrid will allow him to do so. Pedri’s bad experience is very recent, as he seemed to fall apart after joining both competitions. Mbappé has a different physique and has been playing with much less display, but something like that would make Madrid start the season without him. Barça faced this problem on the eve of Beijing 2008 with Messi. Barça had a qualifying match pending to enter the Champions League. He was a kid, but he took such a hit that Guardiola accepted: better eight months with a happy Messi than ten with an angry Messi. He went, he won the gold, he returned and won with Barça the six titles at stake. Ovrebo through, yes.
Whatever happens with Mbappé and the Olympics, his arrival in Madrid is full of positive omens. Many would have preferred Haaland, but City is not ready to let him go nor does he have the point of magic in his game that Florentino looks for in his galacticthe brand of today’s Madrid.
The only shadow over the club today is the mystery Kroos, who many fear has rejoined the club. Mannschaft to give yourself a farewell in style. With Modric still valid but wasting away, and without Camavinga or Tchouameni having yet managed to settle down, it would be worrying. But that is another subject.
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