Kylian Mbappe is reportedly set to take a pay-cut ahead of joining Real Madrid, after confirming he will be leaving Paris Saint-Germain after seven years this summer on Friday evening.
The France captain has long been linked with a move from Parc des Princes to the Bernabeu, and last summer refused to sign a new one-year deal to allow him to make the move to LaLiga as a free agent.
Mbappe has since remained tight-lipped on his future destination, refusing to be drawn on his next move until the end of the campaign.
The forward will play his final match in PSG colours on home turf against Toulouse on Saturday, before the last match of the season next Wednesday against Nice.
But with his move away from the French capital, Mbappe will see a vast change in his circumstances as he turns his back on his current blockbuster deal with the Ligue 1 champions.
Kylian Mbappe is set to become Real Madrid’s highest earners despite taking a sizeable cut
The France captain confirmed his much-discussed exit from Paris Saint-Germain on Friday
The 25-year-old has enjoyed a heavily decorated stint in Paris, winning a total of 14 titles
As per as, Mbappe’s salary is set to be drastically reduced to bring him in line with Real Madrid’s highest-earners – even though his proposed salary is set to dwarf even the wages of the most senior members of the team.
The 25-year-old previously inked a two-year deal with the Parisian giants which garnered him a salary worth an eye-popping £5.1million (€6m) per week, with his gross annual salary before tax an estimated £62m (€72m).
But the Spanish outlet claims that Mbappe’s new deal will be almost two-thirds less than the titanic sum commanded at his former club – an estimated £21m (€25m) yearly after tax.
Despite this seismic drop between PSG and Real Madrid’s salaries, Mbappe will can still comfortably claim to be his reported new club’s highest earner.
His wages will be almost double the two most senior figures in the team at present: David Alaba, who earns £9.3m (€10.8m) and Toni Kroos, on a salary of £9.2m (€10.7m) per year.
Last summer’s superstar signing Jude Bellingham is also thought to command a similar amount.
Veterans David Alaba (left) and Toni Kroos (left) are currently Real Madrid’s highest earners
Superstar signing Jude Bellingham is thought to have a salary in line with the senior figures
PSG fans gathered outside Parc des Princes on Friday night in the wake of Mbappe’s message
To announce his departure on Friday, Mbappe released a heartfelt message which saw him personally thank the club, his team-mates, supporters, and each of the managers he has played under during his time in Paris.
‘It’s hard, and I never thought it would be this difficult to announce that I will leave my country,’ Mbappe said in the video. ‘France, the Ligue 1, a league I have always known.
‘But I think I needed this, a new challenge after seven years. It’s difficult and of course there are some people I want to thank above all. These are the fans.
‘I know I’m not the most demonstrative player. I haven’t always lived up to you for seven years. I have always wanted to be effective.
‘PSG is a club that never leaves anyone indifferent. We can love it or hate it. I made the choice of loving it and I did it for seven years, with ups and downs of course. But I do not have any regrets at any moment signing with this prestigious club.
‘It’s a club that I will keep in my memory my entire life I will tell everybody my whole life I had the chance to play.’
But two notable omissions during Mbappe’s surprise confirmation statement spoke volumes of the player’s relationships during his final seasons in Paris.
Mbappe opted not to mention by name either the club’s president Nasser Al-Khelaifi, or former sporting director Antero Henrique.
Nasser Al-Khelaifi (centre) was not mentioned in Mbappe’s touching farewell address
Neither was former PSG sporting director Antero Henrique – sparking speculation of a rift
The club president and his landmark signing have reportedly become frosty since Mbappe refused to sign a one-year contract extension in 2023
As per L’Equipe, Mbappe has not spoken to Al-Khelaifi since February, and relations have been deeply strained.
The player is not believed to have let Al-Khelaifi know that he was planning on releasing the farewell statement – although several key figures in the club did know, including sporting director Luis Campos.
Things are rumoured to be so frosty between Mbappe and the Qatari executive that the pair are said to have been avoiding one another for the past few weeks in a bid to not be forced into saying hello.
Fans will be able to say goodbye to Mbappe in person on Saturday evening, with a tifo honouring the club’s Ligue 1 success this season, and a planned lap of honour for Mbappe to say thank you in return.
