KEY POINTS

  • Real Madrid projected to beat Barcelona in bid to sign Kylian Mbappe
  • Florentino Perez is reportedly keen to spend about $393 million to serve the “final blow” on Barca
  • Madrid is now four points clear from Barcelona at the top of La Liga

Real Madrid has moved closer to securing the La Liga title after Thursday’s victory over Getafe, much to the dismay of their rivals at Camp Nou. But apart from taking the league championship, the Los Blancos could be heaping more frustration on Barcelona as they are said to edge out the Catalans in the race to acquire Paris Saint-Germain star forward Kylian Mbappe.

According to Diario GOL, Florentino Perez is keen to spend about $393 million to serve the “final blow” on Barca by signing Mbappe. It has since been known that the Blaugrana is eyeing the 21-year-old rising star, who is being billed to succeed the greatness of Lionel Messi. But with Madrid determined to edge them out in the bidding process, Barca could end up searching for other talents in place of the French stalwart.

“Florentino Pérez wants to take advantage of (Barcelona) to advance the future of Real Madrid and go for the French striker Kylian Mbappé. The Paris Saint Germain player would be thinking of forcing his departure and the Los Blancos are attentive,” the report read.

“In fact, the Madrid president would want to give the final blow to Barça by paying 350 million euros to take on the signing of the player who is destined to dominate world football when Leo Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo retire.”

The said amount of the exchange would be divided into four payments in a span of two seasons, which “could pay for the total reconstruction” of PSG that aims to sign Jadon Sancho and Erling Braut Haland. Moreover, Ranoveer Neogi of Everything Barca reports that Madrid is also willing to offer the 2018 World Cup winner nearly $34 million per season, which is said to be “a figure that the board at Barca could only dream of offering such a wage as the club’s coffers are currently empty.”

Madrid now holds a four-point advantage over Barcelona in the league ladder, moving on the cusp of yet another title. Sergio Ramos scored on a penalty for the Las Blancos with 11 minutes left before time to come away with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Getafe, which came two days after Barca settled for a 2-2 draw against Atletico Madrid.

Kylian Mbappe has scored 21 goals in 22 appearances for PSG this season
Kylian Mbappe has scored 21 goals in 22 appearances for PSG this season AFP / VALERY HACHE