James Montague -- April 24, 2026
The French forward's representatives held talks with rival clubs in Paris last week, as Madrid quietly began identifying successors.
Representatives for Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé held meetings with officials from Premier League and Serie A clubs in Paris last week, and Real Madrid has begun internal discussions identifying potential replacements, sources familiar with the situation said.
Two sources placed the Paris meetings geographically and described officials from both interested clubs as having been given 'encouragement that a conversation is worth having' by Mbappé's camp. The characterisation indicates that his representatives were not simply fielding unsolicited approaches but were actively maintaining dialogue.
Separately, Real Madrid is reported to have begun internal succession planning, a development that sources described as reflecting preparation for a departure rather than an effort to retain the player. The club has not publicly addressed the reports.
Mbappé was absent from an optional training session on Wednesday without explanation. Club sources were noted to have flagged the absence, which suggested the player's movements were being monitored internally.
Relations between Mbappé and the club were described by sources as 'professional but strained' following a run of matches in which he was substituted before the hour mark. Mbappé joined Real Madrid from Paris Saint-Germain and has not publicly addressed the speculation about his future.