Real Madrid believe Kylian Mbappe will sign in January?

Paris Saint-Germain star forward Kylian Mbappe recently told RMC Sport he wanted to leave the club to complete his dream move to Real Madrid this past July. The 22-year-old, who is out of contract at the end of the season, could sign a pre-contract agreement with the Spanish giants as early as Jan. 1 and then join Real as a free agent next summer unless he puts pen to paper on an extension with his current employer before that date. 

Per Adriana Garcia of ESPN, Real Madrid president Florentino Perez seemed confident Mbappe will dedicate his future to the club at the start of the new year when speaking Tuesday.

"We hope that on Jan. 1 everything can be resolved," Perez said about Mbappe. 

However, Perez later clarified his stance. 

"My words were misinterpreted," he stated. "What I said is that we have to wait until next year ... always with respect to PSG with whom we have good relations."

Paris Saint-Germain sporting director Leonardo hit out at Real Madrid's summer pursuit of Mbappe last month and refuted reports the La Liga side offered €200 million ($236 million) for the forward. Leonardo once again had harsh words for "Los Blancos" on Tuesday.