Kylian Mbappe moving to Real Madrid is “just a question of time” according to Jerome Rothen, who claims the Paris Saint-Germain forward was set for the La Liga giants prior to the coronavirus crisis.
Mbappe continues to be linked with a move to Madrid, where manager Zinedine Zidane has made no secret of his admiration for the Frenchman.
The 21-year-old is contracted until 2022 but Mbappe is no closer to committing his future to the French champions despite PSG’s best efforts.
Declan Rice admits he would love to play with Mason Mount at Chelsea
De Rossi names two Man Utd players who were to ‘blame’ for him not joining club
Former PSG midfielder Rothen said the France international almost signed for Real Madrid before the Covid-19 pandemic – which has claimed more than 108,700 lives around the world – wreaked havoc on sport and society.
“I know from club sources that a deal to take Kylian Mbappe to Real Madrid was almost done,” Rothen, who won two titles during his six years at PSG, told Radio Montecarlo.
“But with what has been happening, I’m sure that Mbappe’s arrival at Real Madrid will be postponed.”
Rothen added: “There is no way that Mbappe will extend his contract with PSG.
“They will have an agreement between them in place because PSG agreed to let him go this summer. In my opinion, it’s just a question of time.”
Prior to coronavirus halting the Ligue 1 and sport across the world, Mbappe had scored 18 league goals in 30 matches across all competitions for PSG in 2019-20.
Mbappe faced the Spanish giants in the Champions League group stages this campaign with Zidane declaring his love for the attacker last year.
“You know that I have known him for a long time,” Zidane told a media conference at the time. “I am already in love with him, firstly as a person, because he came to do a trial here a long time ago.
“On Tuesday he comes as a rival. What matters to me is what we are going to do and we are going to prepare for it. We know the player and we must be prepared.”
