Why PSG Superstar Should’ve Chosen Saudi Arabia Over Real Madrid: Insights from an Ex-Player

Kylian Mbappé made an announcement last Friday that he’ll be leaving Paris Saint-Germain after this season, as his contract is due to expire next month. The 25-year-old is set to join Real Madrid, but according to one former player, it might not be the right move for him.

Mbappé was PSG’s lead player this season after the departures of Lionel Messi, Marco Verratti, and Neymar Jr. The Frenchman’s move to the Spanish capital will see him share the No. 1 spotlight with Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Jr. 

With the 2018 FIFA World Cup winner returning to what he had at PSG, former French footballer Marcel Desailly believes that Saudi Arabia was a better choice than heading to Los Blancos.

“I’m not sure Madrid is the perfect place for him,” Desailly said (h/t Le10Sport). “There is Vinicius on the left side, there is Bellingham. He will not be the real No. 1 as he would like… 

“If you think about the football business, I would go to Saudi Arabia for €350 million for a year. I’ll come back in a year, the year of the World Cup, being 26, having collected money, playing football.”

Mbappé heading to Saudi Arabia wasn’t a realistic destination, considering the forward wants to win the UEFA Champions League. It will be interesting to see if the winger wins the trophy that’s eluded him at the club level.