Killian Mbabane's decision to sign for another three years at Paris Saint-Germain, and to ruin all of Real Madrid's plans, is the biggest story in world football.
Even bigger than the Champions League final that will take place next Saturday, when Liverpool will play against ... Real Madrid.
in Paris!
In France they celebrate.
The sports newspaper "Lakip" came out this morning (Sunday) with a mocking headline: "France - Spain 0: 2".
Also Lyon's victory over Barcelona in the Champions League final for women - and especially PSG's victory over Real Madrid in the battle for Mbabane.
In Madrid they received the news in utter shock.
Some commentators have attacked the French star, others are convinced it is a political conspiracy by the presidents of France and Qatar.
But the one who took it the hardest is of course the president of Real Madrid Florentino Perez, who in general has had a difficult day.
He was in Belgrade yesterday, where he wanted to see the club's basketball team win the Euroleague.
So not only did Real lose to Andulo Zero, but in the Serbian capital he received the WhatsApp message sent to him by Killian in person announcing his decision.
For five years now, Florentino has been determined to sign Mbabane.
A year ago he offered him 200 million euros, but PSG refused because he had another year left on his contract.
Mbabane in the pre-match ceremony against Metz.
Extended contract until 2025, Photo: AP
Florentino was convinced that in the summer of 2022, after Killian's contract expires, there will be no force in the world that will prevent him from bringing him to Madrid.
What's more, Mbabane has repeatedly stated that he aspires to play for Real.
Florentino Perez has decided to "commit suicide" on Ambape, because he understands, like everyone else, that in the current era, where Leo Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are no longer the best players in the world, there is only one player who is in the top of the world.
And Mbabane is set to be the number one player in the world for the next 7 or 8 years.
Florentino knew that if he managed to land Mbabane at the revamped Santiago Bernabeu, he would be set for many years to come.
In all respects: professional, financial and image.
And so he was willing to do anything for Killian to come: pay him 50 million euros net a year, and give him 100 percent control of the profits over his image rights.
Just to be understood, in real it is accepted that players get only 50 percent.
The only exception was Ronaldo, who received 60 percent.
Mbabane in the pre-match ceremony against Metz.
Extended contract until 2025, Photo: Reuters
Real were also strong in negotiations with Arling Holland, but eventually gave up on the Norwegian striker, because she was convinced that Mbabane would sign with them, and that in any case the Frenchman surpasses the Norwegian in every way.
For Real it is a huge blow, but for Florentino Perez it is a severe blow to the ego and image, of the almighty boss, who always achieves what he wants and who he wants.
By the way, Mbabane's new contract is for three years, which means that in 2025, when he will be 26 years old, there is no impediment to fulfilling the dream and moving to the Spanish capital.
It's still a relatively young age.
The question is whether after the U-turn he has now made, Madrid will be ready to swallow the pride in three years - or whether for the management and the fans he is "erased" forever.
By the way, Mbabane's decision to stay at PSG is not just due to economic reasons, as many tend to think.
Killian's mother, Faiza, said the two offers, from PSG and Real Madrid, are almost identical.
So one can of course not believe her, but on the other hand it is clear that there are other factors here that led to the decision.
First, we must not forget that Mbabane is a Parisian.
He was born in the Bondi neighborhood, and Paris is his city, where he grew up, until he moved to Monaco's youth department.
But the most significant thing is that Mbabane will from now on become the most important player on the team - and probably also the most influential person in the club.
Celebrating with Neymar in the last game of the season, yesterday,
It should be remembered that President Nasser al-Khalafi is merely the emissary of the Emir of Qatar.
He does not make big decisions on his own.
For example, the last word in the signings of Neymar, Messi and of course Ambape, were of the Emir.
Mother Faiza traveled to Qatar about two weeks ago and, among other things, met with the Emir.
It was probably there that the decision to stay was born.
Mbabane demanded, through his mother, that the important decisions in the group be made in full coordination with him.
And that means who will be the professional manager, who will be the coach, who will be the players who will leave the team and also who will be the ones who will come.
By the way, this is not a precedent.
Leo Messi had in some years similar "powers" in Barcelona.
The President would consult with him on any significant decision.
Mbabane would not have stayed at PSG, for any fortune in the world, if they had not promised him that the team would be better, stronger and more competitive next season.
He knows exactly why the team failed this season in the Champions League.
Zidane.
Will the City of Lights Come ?, Photo: Reuters
So in the coming days there will be very interesting news from the French team.
Not only does the future of coach Mauricio Pochettino depend on what Killian will say, but also the future of professional manager Leonardo and even Neymar.
Zinedine Zidane, the man who led Real Madrid to three consecutive Champions League wins, is set to be the new coach.
Luis Campos, the Portuguese who was Monaco's professional manager when Mbabane was promoted to the first team, is set to replace Leonardo.
For the Qataris, there was one big goal: for the World Cup to open in about six months, Mbabane will arrive as a player of the French champions.
And for that to happen they really did everything.
The sums to be paid to Killian are for them the easy matter.
It was much harder to get the professional demands of a 23 year old guy. But they had no choice.
Florentino Perez.
Will he be able to recover ?, Photo: Reuters
And there was another head of state who was probably also involved in the pressure cooker: French President Emmanuel Macron.
Apparently this was not meant to bother the President of the Republic on which team Mbabane will play, as long as he continues to play in the national team uniform.
But apparently there was an unconventional request from the President of Qatar from his French counterpart to assist in the matter.
And Macron did agree.
We will probably soon know more spicy details about this intervention of the Elysee Palace.
Many people, especially in Madrid, are convinced that Mbabane made a serious mistake when he decided not to join a team bigger than PSG, and not to move to a reputed and better league than the French league.
It could very well be that they are right.
But the truth is that only the future will prove whether this is indeed a strategic mistake that will harm the career of the best player in the world - or a calculated move that will do good to his legacy.
Ambape.
An end to all speculation, Photo: AFP
If we go back to the side of Real Madrid, then there is no doubt that Florentino Perez suffered a severe image and professional blow.
He is not used to players who refuse him.
This is something that almost never happens.
The fact that at least in the next few years the two best strikers in the world will play in the two teams belonging to the Gulf states, Arling Holland in Manchester City and Killian Mbabane in Paris, is dramatic.
This puts Real Madrid in a position it is not used to being in.
Do not worry, Real Madrid will continue to be one of the best teams on the continent.
Krim Benzema is not yet planning to retire and the huge money set aside in favor of Killian Mbabane will be invested in another striker.
Maybe Richarlison, or Darwin Nunes.
Killian Ambape.
Not going anywhere, Photo: Reuters
And yet, this is a huge blow to Real Madrid's plans for the coming years.
She now needs to recalculate a route.
And it will not be easy.
And Ambape?
He celebrated last night his new three-year contract as he likes and as he knows it - with a hat-trick in a 0-5 win over Metz.
Were we wrong?
Fixed!
If you found an error in the article, we'll be happy for you to share it with us