Real Madrid will pay dearly for failing to sign this starlet

MONACO, MONACO - MARCH 15: Kylian Mbappe of Monaco in action during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 second leg match between AS Monaco (ASM) and Manchester City FC at Stade Louis II on March 15, 2017 in Monaco, Monaco. (Photo by Jean Catuffe/Getty Images)
MONACO, MONACO - MARCH 15: Kylian Mbappe of Monaco in action during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 second leg match between AS Monaco (ASM) and Manchester City FC at Stade Louis II on March 15, 2017 in Monaco, Monaco. (Photo by Jean Catuffe/Getty Images)

Real Madrid almost signed Kylian Mbappe in 2013

It’s no great secret that Real Madrid intend to make a massive bid for Monaco starlet Kylian Mbappe this summer. The irony is, that Los Blancos almost snapped him up in 2013. You can be sure that his price tag will be much larger this summer.

Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane admitted that the club were ever so close to acquiring the young Frenchman before he signed with Monaco. I’m sure he was disappointed when he missed out on Mbappe at the time, but he’s got to be even sicker about it now.

Now that Mbappe is primed for his first appearance for France’s first team, his price tag is going to go through the roof. It’s quite possible that Real might be forced to pay as much as £80 million to acquire him this summer. That’s not out of the club’s price range, but it certainly isn’t cheap.

Zidane and company see Mbappe as the club’s next great attacker. Given the way he’s played for Monaco this year, it’s easy to come to that conclusion. He’s rung up 10 goals and five assists in 21 appearances in France’s top flight. His stellar play is a big reason that his club currently sit atop the Ligue 1 standings.

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The one question Mbappe needs to ask himself is whether or not he can find immediate playing time with Zidane’s club. He’s a terrific young talent, but he’s not ready to supplant any of Los Blancos’ current starters. If he does make the big move to Spain, he’s going to have to accept a reserve role at the start.

There are other clubs willing to pay Monaco a significant fee who can offer Mbappe more immediate playing time. They might not have the magical allure of Real Madrid, but they certainly aren’t small clubs devoid of history. In the end, Mbappe may need to choose between the biggest club possible and the right club where he can still earn regular playing time.

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That’s an issue for Mbappe, not Real Madrid. Zidane’s job is to acquire as much top-end talent as he can. He’ll be more than happy to acquire Mbappe to play a big role off his bench. If that happens, expect the Frenchman to learn a lot from his countryman. That could be bad news for the rest of La Liga.