Kylian Mbappé is now in his third season at Real Madrid, wearing the iconic number 10 shirt for the second year running. Yet the story could have unfolded very differently nine years ago, when Paris Saint-Germain intervened to block Real Madrid’s plans. Neymar’s transfer to PSG proved decisive in swaying Mbappé’s choice to don the Parisian jersey instead of the famous white of Madrid. This revelation came from his former teammate Thiago Silva during the previous season, and its repercussions continue to ripple through French football, affecting everything from club revenues to the hopes of supporters across the country.

Everything moved rapidly for Kylian Mbappé. The 2016/2017 season was his first full campaign with AS Monaco. At the Stade Louis II, the young prodigy from Bondy helped his team reach the Champions League semi-finals, eliminating Manchester City under Pep Guardiola and Borussia Dortmund led by Thomas Tuchel. Meanwhile, AS Monaco claimed their eighth Ligue 1 title, ending a 17-year drought. Mbappé was instrumental in interrupting PSG‘s dominance in the French top flight since 2013. That was the first turning point in his career, and its effects would soon be felt far beyond the pitch.

The economic ripple effect of mbappé’s choice

At just 18, only months before his 19th birthday—which he could have celebrated as a Real Madrid player alongside his idol Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, and Sergio Ramos—Kylian Mbappé chose to reject the advances of president Florentino Pérez, who was ready to table €180 million. PSG matched that offer in the final stretch of the summer transfer window. In December 2018, Mbappé spoke to Marca about the saga’s conclusion. A particularly satisfying outcome. “Why did I choose PSG? Because PSG is my hometown club. It’s like a kid from Madrid who has the chance to play for Real and goes elsewhere, to another country. No, no, I wanted to play for PSG and I’m very happy with how things are going. There were many transfer rumors, and yes, we talked, but I think that’s in the past now for me and for Real Madrid. Now I play for PSG and I will defend these colors 100%.”

How a single conversation altered the club’s trajectory

Kylian Mbappé did not simply choose to wear the red and blue of Paris Saint-Germain because of his ties to the Paris region. His former PSG captain had spoken months earlier to Ligue 1+ about the club’s current affairs. And Thiago Silva revealed a previously secret discussion with Kylian Mbappé after the Trophée des Champions in the summer of 2017. “I remember the Champions Trophy against Monaco and Mbappé very well. After the match, he came to see me and said: ‘If Neymar comes, I want to come too. You can talk to the president about it. I also want to be part of this team.’ Neymar signed and Mbappé arrived.” That exchange set off a chain reaction that boosted PSG’s global brand and financial power, while altering the competitive balance in Ligue 1 and beyond.

A friendship that defined an era

The scales tipped in favor of Paris Saint-Germain for Kylian Mbappé largely due to the presence of Neymar, who had joined in early August from FC Barcelona for €222 million. The two forged a close bond that eventually faded over time. “An incredible friendship formed from the start. Then a few years later, what happened happened. I am a bit disappointed by how things turned out. It should have happened differently.” The partnership’s rise and fall left a lasting mark on PSG’s ambitions and on the expectations of fans who had dreamed of a golden era.

By Mariama Hamani — Analyst