Kylian Mbappe, the boy wonder who grew up with Real Madrid posters on his wall, looks to be closing in on his dream transfer.
The Paris Saint-Germain star is the most expensive teenager in the history of the game, became a world champion in the year he turned 20, and the heir to the throne of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as the best in the world.
It's now seen as inevitable that he'll swap teams in the summer, leaving the capital of France for Spain, and the white jersey of Real Madrid.
Most remarkable of all is the turn of events that has seen Mbappe sign for a nine-digit sum, and yet set to leave PSG on a free transfer.
Why is Mbappe leaving PSG?
How did it go so wrong in Paris? In response to a disappointing league season in 2016/17, the capital club splashed out on Neymar Jr. from Barcelona, while loaning in Mbappe with an agreement to make the deal permanent the following summer.
This was supposed to be a statement of intent, an announcement that PSG were joining the continental heavyweights. While Les Rouge-et-Bleu are certainly domestic heavyweights, they have never kicked on to become a true super-club.
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PSG have trended upwards since Unai Emery was replaced with Thomas Tuchel, and then Mauricio Pochettino. They made a Champions League semi-final, and finished as runner-up in 2020, but the jury is still out over PSG at the very highest level.
Questions have been asked over the decision-making at the club, with director Leonardo's relationship with Tuchel being famously inharmonious. The general feeling that PSG is a squad of individuals, rather than a team, has been prevalent, with concerns around the standard of professionalism not going away.
Leaving gossip aside, the effect of the star-focused recruitment policy is clear to see on the pitch. While Neymar, Messi, and Mbappe make up a fantastic attacking trio, they also make it much harder for a coach like Pochettino to implement his press to perfection. Simply put, PSG have taken too long to get good.
Mbappe is now at the stage of his career where he should be looking to cement his status as the best in the world. That means playing for a club that goes into every season expecting to challenge for the Champions League. As it stands, PSG simply aren't there yet.
The fact that they aren't even reigning champions of France, losing eight games last season to finish a point behind Lille only stresses this further. While they may have quality players, PSG haven't done enough to convince Mbappe that his future should lie with them.
In addition, the question over whether he can win a Ballon d'Or - the same one which also plagued Neymar at Barcelona - while in the same team as two other global icons is also a concern. Of course, for the French striker this move would also be one of the heart, fulfilling his childhood dream to join what is still the world's biggest club.
How much did Real Madrid bid for Mbappe?
It's no secret that Real Madrid have been courting the young forward for a while now. Several big-money sales have been building up to this moment, with money now in the bank for Mbappe.
According to ESPN, president Florentino Perez went as far as to bid $225 million last summer - despite Mbappe only having a year left on his contract at the time. PSG rejected the deal, meaning he can now walk for nothing.
What will Mbappe's Real Madrid salary be?
Of course, there's no such thing as 'free' in soccer. Multi-million-dollar transfer fees are replaced with loyalty bonuses, signing-on fees, appearances bonuses; the list goes on and on. At the top of that list, of course, is an enormous salary.
According to German newspaper Bild, Madrid have already made an offer to Mbappe of $57 million per year, or $1.1 million per week. This would double his current PSG salary.
What has Mbappe said about the move?
He told L'Equipe in October 2021: "I am connected to Paris. But if I had left in the summer it would have only been for Real Madrid.
"At the beginning, I asked for some time to reflect. Before Euro 2020, I told the club that I didn’t want to renew, and after I said I wanted to leave.
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"My objective was really for everyone to move forward together - the selling club, the buying club and me - and that we worked out the best deal possible.
"I also wanted to give my club enough time to find a replacement for me. Everyone would be happy. But the club decided not to sell me, and I was OK with that. I don’t have a problem.
"I’m still at a huge club and in a place where I’ve been happy for four years. I always want to play and show that I’m a top player, that nothing fazes me - even a failed transfer - and that I can be the difference right until the end.
"I don’t make impulse decisions. I thought long and hard about it. At the time, I was a bit [disappointed]. When your goal is to leave and you end up staying, you’re not pleased about it. But I quickly moved on from it."
What are Mbappe's qualities and key stats?
Mbappe has been compared with Ronaldo and Thierry Henry, both in terms of his style of play, and the potential level he could reach. It's no coincidence that he's compared with complete forwards, players who had everything in their locker.
First and foremost, Mbappe is already a great goalscorer and also a very strong creative presence, incredibly racking up 170 goal contributions (51 assists and 119 strikes of his own) in as many Ligue 1 appearances.
As well as leading the way in France, the former Monaco man is among Europe's elite, too, ranking 3rd for Champions League goals (19) since the 2018/19 campaign. Mbappe is one of four men to score multiple Champions League hat-tricks in that time, and the only one to score three hat-tricks in Ligue 1.
He's rapid, with more shots from fast breaks (15) than any other player over the last four Champions League seasons. Over the same period in domestic soccer, he's converted 50% of shots from fast breaks (44) into goals. His pace and directness make him a real menace for any team looking to play a high line.
He's not a one-trick pony, though. He's secure on the ball, happy to receive it from deep and able to link play effectively. He has that great combination of being a creative passer, capable of getting the ball into the area and setting up teammates, while also being secure in possession.
Mbappe is comfortable on either foot, and good in tight spaces. He's a competent dribbler, too, and the kind of player who's happy to shoulder the responsibility to try and make something happen. While he's not weak, the area where he's most lacking is in the air. He's not someone who regularly tries to win headers.
Where does Mbappe fit in at Real Madrid?
Given the expected outlay, Real Madrid envisage Mbappe as the jewel in their crown going forward. With Karim Benzema's contract extended by one year, to 2023, the succession plan is clear to see.
Benzema is the only player to have started more than one game as the centre forward for Madrid this season, but at 34 that's not sustainable. That allows a transition period for Mbappe to take the reins from his compatriot, but there are no doubts that Los Blancos are signing him to be their central striker.
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So, who will he be playing alongside? Vinicius Junior continues to impress, and looks to be nailing down the left-hand side of Madrid's attack.
The right side of the trident is still something of a question mark, however. Marco Asensio and Rodrygo are the two options competing for that spot, but it's up for debate as to whether either of them are the long-term solution. Eden Hazard and Gareth Bale are also potential options, but the Welshman's time in Madrid seems destined to peter out, while Hazard has never really got firing.
While Real Madrid are undoubtedly going to be throwing a lot of money at the young French star, they're bringing in a world-class centre forward, and guaranteeing themselves goals for the best part of a decade by doing so. For Mbappe, it's a chance to show he can handle the responsibility of being a superstar at the size of club where perfection is an expectation, rather than a goal.