Inside the deal for Kylian Mbappe to leave PSG for Real Madrid

While Mbappé's Madrid offer remains unknown, we are aware of a few crucial details:

It's a free transfer. Traditionally, soccer contracts feature two separate negotiations — one for the player's wages and one to release the player from contract. When, for instance, Chelsea announced it had acquired Enzo Fernandez for a $132 million transfer fee, that money went to Fernandez's former club, Benfica, not to Fernandez himself. His wages were negotiated separately.

Had PSG allowed Mbappé to go to Madrid in the past, it would've received a hefty — perhaps even record-setting — transfer fee for its sacrifice. But Mbappé's PSG contract is set to expire in June. Madrid intends to sign him as soon as it does, without offering so much as a penny to PSG.

Mbappé's wages will be less at Madrid than they at PSG. Sky Sports reported that while Mbappé will likely become the highest-paid athlete in Madrid history, he will not make what he earned in Paris. Madrid plans to make up for that by offering Mbappé a sizable signing bonus.

"The money that Real Madrid would have been paying as a transfer fee, they are basically going to be paying to the player instead," said Sky Sports' Kaveh Solhekol. "He will be getting a massive signing-on fee. There are reports in Spain that it could be over $125M."

Mbappé's arrival fits into Madrid's "galacticos" history. When Spanish businessman Florentino Perez became president of Real Madrid in 2000, he ushered in an era of big stars and big salaries at the club. His philosophy — called the "galacticos" philosophy by the media — was to sign at least one global superstar each year, turning Madrid into a "dream team" that anyone in the world could root for.

England's David Beckham, Portugal's Luis Figo, Brazil's Ronaldo and France's Zinedine Zidane arrived during that first galacticos era. Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo, Croatia's Luka Modric, Argentina's Ángel di Maria and France's Karim Benzema soon followed.

While the galacticos philosophy brought money, trophies and attention to Real Madrid, it wasn't a slam-dunk success. Egos clashed in the dressing room and coaches struggled to keep the big personalities in check. The club distanced itself from the idea during the pandemic and worked to supplement its existing stars with hungry — and moldable — young players.

Mbappé's arrival reignites the galacticos mindset for Madrid, but the club is well-equipped to support it. 

Coach Carlo Ancelotti is famous for his laissez-faire approach to in-game tactics, trusting his skilled players to make crucial decisions without his help. His hands-off approach forces players to work together and reduces tension in the dressing room. Previous coaches would try to impose their own ideas upon Madrid's galacticos only to be laughed out of the room, but Ancelotti lets his galacticos run wild — and laughs all the way to the trophy dais.

Mbappé should, therefore, find a positive environment in Madrid this summer. But what of PSG, the team he's leaving behind? Coach Luis Enrique isn't concerned about the future.

"The club is bigger than any individual," he said. Enrique is thought to be eyeing Napoli's Victor Osimhen as Mbappé's replacement, but there's a chance he could invest in PSG youth prospect Warren Zaire-Emery instead.

It has been a long road for Mbappé and Madrid, but their partnership —10 years in the making — looks set to be fruitful. Ancelotti is the perfect coach for a player of Mbappé's caliber, and Madrid is the perfect club for him to thrive. The rest of Europe had better be ready.