What Kylian Mbappe’s decision means for Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid and himself

Kylian Mbappe has decided to stay in Paris for another three years. Aurelien Meunier/Getty Images

Well, that was unexpected! While Kylian Mbappe’s impending move to Real Madrid seemed like the worst-kept secret in sports, the French superstar made a last-second U-turn and decided to stay in Paris — for at least a couple of more years.

Mbappe is such a transcendent talent that even a decision to continue playing for the team he has been with since 2017 will send shockwaves across Europe. What does the non-move mean for him, for Paris Saint-Germain, for Madrid and for everyone else? We take a look.

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ESPN reports that Mbappe rejected PSG’s longer-term offers in favor of a three-year deal. Given that he just essentially pitted two of the richest and most desperate clubs in the world against each other, we can assume that he’ll be signing one of the most lucrative contracts in the history of the sport — if not the history of all sports.

Due to the norms of the transfer market, previous superstars would have jumped at whatever kind of mega long-term offer PSG initially put on the table. You’re set for life, you’re protected against injury, and you avoid whatever rents might get taken out of your contract with a new club due to the transfer fee they’d be paying to acquire you. Mbappe, though, has turned the market for soccer players into something much more like NBA-style free agency.