Sports
Florentino Perez prepares his most daring raid yet… but will Real Madrid land either Neymar or Kylian Mbappe?
Real Madrid have been keen to sign both Neymar and Kylian Mbappe for some time.
Los Blancos have long been linked with both of Paris Saint-Germain’s attacking stars, both Ballon d’Or candidates.
President Florentino Perez has been keen to take Neymar back to Spain after his world record switch from Barcelona to PSG 12 months ago.
But Mbappe’s star continues to rise, after a shining in France’s World Cup win, and he has been monitored by the European giants since his early teens.
He has begun the new season in scintillating fashion, scoring twice after coming off the bench to hand PSG a 3-1 win at Guingamp in his first match back last weekend – a match in which Neymar also scored.
Now, before the close of the Spanish transfer window next week, Perez is waiting to pounce if PSG are forced into a decision over their two prized assets.
That Madrid are yet to replace Cristiano Ronaldo isn’t a mere coincidence.
According to Sport, the 13-time European Cup winners have put aside £270million to move for either player next week, if UEFA punish PSG over Financial Fair Play.
Madrid boss Julen Lopetegui is keen on Spain striker Rodrigo from Valencia, but Perez is yet to pull the trigger as he’s unconvinced and remains hopeful on landing one of the marquee pair. Iago Aspas, the ex-Liverpool striker, is another name in the frame.
UEFA reopened its investigation into PSG in July, just a month after it had closed the case.
“In light of the recent decision of the Club Financial Control Body chief investigator to close the investigation into Paris Saint-Germain – which commenced on 1 September 2017 – the chairman of the CFCB has decided to send this decision for review by the adjudicatory chamber.”
The French champions spent £200million to sign Neymar last year, and have similarly spent £166million to turn Mbappe’s loan move from Monaco permanent this summer, although when that fee is to be paid and how remains in question.
European football’s governing body did so at the behest of La Liga chief Javier Tebas, who told AS on Wednesday: “It’s true that at the start of the summer, we asked Uefa to reopen the investigation into PSG.”
Tebas, who last week announced a deal to see at least one La Liga match per season played in the United States or Canada, as he seeks to further monetize the league, has been outspoken on what he perceives as clubs ‘financially doping’ in the past, notably the French side and Manchester City.
The investigation is designed to see both whether PSG are guilty of doing just that – effectively by paying for Neymar and Mbappe with money directly from Qatar rather than club revenues – and how much PSG need to balance the books.
If PSG cannot prove the value of their sponsorship deals and that outside money wasn’t used to sign either star, and are subsequently sanctioned then they will face stiff sanctions.
UEFA cannot ban PSG from buying players but, according to AS, they could block payments to Monaco and thus send the Bondy-born teen back to Monaco. That would allow Perez to pounce.
However, Mbappe recently told reporters: “I will stay with PSG, continuing on my path with them. I am at the beginning of my career.”
Alternatively, they could instead sell Neymar for in excess of what they paid 12 months ago; again Perez would be waiting.
Such a move would have been deemed impossible by PSG chiefs earlier this year, but Mbappe’s continued growth has increasingly led to questions over whether it is he rather than the Brazilian who is now most important at the Parc des Princes.
Indeed, from Neymar’s perspective, a move back to Spain certainly appeals. There is no smoke without fire, whatever the official line, and Brazilian broadcasters have also decided against buying Ligue 1 TV rights, such is the feeling in his homeland that a move to Madrid is in the offing.
With UEFA set to rule on August 30, Madrid chiefs would have until the end of August 31 to potentially land a world record deal.
For Perez, the man who brought in the ‘Galacticos’ era at the Bernabeu, it could be his most daring raid yet.
If PSG aren’t forced to part with either Mbappe or Neymar, then ex-Bolton loanee Rodrigo or former Liverpool flop Aspas, who has restored his reputation back in Spain, could be the big winner.
Real Madrid produced a spectacular comeback against Bayern Munich to reach the Champions League final with Joselu striking twice late on, earning them a 2-1 win on Wednesday to progress 4-3 on aggregate.
Alphonso Davies smashed the visiting German giants ahead in the second half but record 14-time winners Madrid produced a sensational comeback with Joselu netting in the 88th and 91st minutes.
Bayern Munich’s Canadian midfielder #19 Alphonso Davies scores his team’s first goal in spite of Real Madrid’s Ukrainian goalkeeper #13 Andriy Lunin during the UEFA Champions League semi final second leg football match between Real Madrid CF and FC Bayern Munich at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on May 8, 2024. (Photo by OSCAR DEL POZO / AFP)
Spanish champions Real Madrid face another German side, Borussia Dortmund, in the Wembley final on June 1, after they stunned the team they call their “black beast”.
Squad player Joselu, on as a late substitute, wrote his name in Madrid’s history books with his last-gasp brace.
Bayern Munich’s English forward #09 Harry Kane reacts to their defeat after the UEFA Champions League semi final second leg football match between Real Madrid CF and FC Bayern Munich at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on May 8, 2024. (Photo by JAVIER SORIANO / AFP)
“There have been a lot of times we have looked dead and buried, but we have that mentality of never say die,” said Real midfielder Jude Bellingham.
“Joselu deserves it all, he has been an amazing squad member this season.”
Madrid had enjoyed the better of the match but it seemed Davies’ superb strike had set up a repeat of the 2013 all-German final in London.
Bayern coach Thomas Tuchel made three changes from the first leg, benching veteran Thomas Mueller and Leon Goretzka.
Dani Carvajal started for Madrid after missing the first leg suspended and was heavily involved as the hosts dominated the opening stages.
Real Madrid players celebrate their second goal scored by Real Madrid’s Spanish forward #14 Joselu during the UEFA Champions League semi final second leg football match between Real Madrid CF and FC Bayern Munich at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on May 8, 2024. (Photo by JAVIER SORIANO / AFP)
Rodrygo Goes was inches away from converting Carvajal’s low cross and the Spain defender then cleverly set up Vinicius Junior with a pass nutmegging a defender, and Manuel Neuer tipped the Brazilian’s shot against the post.
The rebound fell to Rodrygo but his effort was weak and with a desperate arm Neuer was able to claw it out to complete a fine double save.
Bayern’s Serge Gnabry limped off injured with Davies replacing him before Harry Kane’s first flash of danger.
Madrid goalkeeper Andriy Lunin was alert to push the England captain’s vicious long-range volley around the post.
Neuer palmed away a Vinicius free-kick as the teams ended a high-intensity, relentlessly frantic first half level.
The second period was just as fraught, with Davies’ cross deflecting onto the roof of Lunin’s goal.
Vinicius was unplayable down Madrid’s left and Rodrygo prodded his low cross agonisingly wide of the far post.
The 38-year-old Neuer made superb saves to deny both Brazilian forwards again before the hour mark as Madrid controlled the game and ratcheted up the pressure.
However just as in Munich, when Los Blancos were at their strongest, Bayern pounced.
Kane fed Davies and the Canada international cut inside from the left and smashed a shot beyond Lunin into the far top corner after 68 minutes.
Madrid thought they had levelled moments later through Nacho but after a VAR review the strike was ruled out as the defender had grabbed Joshua Kimmich’s face before shooting.
Tuchel took off Kane in the final stages to try and hold on to victory but it slipped through his fingers as Madrid produced more indelible European memories.
Neuer, who had been sublime to this point, fumbled what appeared a simple Vinicius strike and Joselu gratefully bundled home from close range.
With Bayern reeling Madrid struck again, decisively. It was Joselu once more, the striker on loan from second division side Espanyol, turning home after Antonio Rudiger cut the ball back to him.
The goal was ruled offside but officials overturned the decision after review, and after nearly 15 minutes of stoppage time, Madrid earned the chance to go for their 15th Champions League trophy.
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