Real deny Mbappe transfer deal reached

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Real Madrid have rubbished media reports that they have made a bid for Paris Saint-Germain’s teenage sensation Kylian Mbappe, who has caught the football world by storm with his scintillating performance at the World Cup in Russia.

Earlier, social media user Baptiste Ripart, who identifies himself as a journalist and editor, tweeted saying that the Spanish Champions League holders had agreed a world-record 272 million euro (239.75 million pounds) fee for the 19-year-old striker.

However, Real Madrid issued a statement trashing the reports after Spanish sports dailies Marca and AS ran articles citing the posting.

“Given the information published ... regarding an alleged agreement between Real Madrid and PSG for the player Kylian Mbappe, Real Madrid would like to state that it is completely false,” the Madrid-based club posted on their website.

France's Kylian Mbappe during training ahead of his side’s quarter-final clash against Uruguay. /VCG Photo

“Real Madrid has not made any offer to PSG or the player and condemns the spreading of this type of information.”

With speculation rife that world player of the year Cristiano Ronaldo will soon leave for Juventus from the UEFA Champions League champions, the Madrid club also on Monday denied a report that they had offered 310 million euros for Mbappe’s Brazilian PSG strike partner Neymar.

PSG signed Mbappe on an initial year-long loan deal from AS Monaco last year with an option to buy after one season. That deal was said to be worth 180 million euros.

Mbappe has so far scored three World Cup goals, including two in France 4-3 round-of-16 victory over Argentina. Mbappe, a self-confessed fan of Cristiano Ronaldo, will spearhead France’s attack once again when they face Uruguay in a quarter-final in Nizhny Novgorod on Friday.

(With input from Reuters)