Kylian Mbappe sends cryptic Ballon d'Or message hinting at Real Madrid transfer

Paris Saint-Germain striker Kylian Mbappe delivered a cryptic response at the Ballon d'Or ceremony on Monday that hinted at a future transfer to Real Madrid.

The France international was speaking at the awards ceremony on Monday night which saw him rank ninth in the overall voting.

Madrid lodged a world record bid - which Sky Sports reported to be in excess of €220million - which received no response from the Ligue 1 club in the closing hours of the summer transfer window.

As evidenced by Madrid's failed transfer attempt to sign Mbappe this summer, PSG are unlikely to allow one of their prized assets to depart without a fight.

Mbappe's contract at Les Parisiens expires next summer and theoretically he can negotiate with other clubs to sign a pre-contract agreement from January 1.

HAVE YOUR SAY! Will Kylian Mbappe sign for Real Madrid next year? Let us know in the comments section below

That situation has fuelled speculation that the striker will complete his move to the Spanish capital as a free agent next summer.

Every interview that the striker conducts will inevitably lead to suggestions that he is dropping hints regarding his future and the same was true following the Ballon d'Or ceremony.

The 22-year-old was responding about his dreaming of one day lifting the prize himself, but suggested that there was a 'process' that he needed to go through to win the award.

Mbappe told reporters: "Of course my goal is to win a Ballon d'Or title or several of them, but there is a process to achieve it."

That has been interpreted by Diario AS as a suggestion that he would want to move to a club where he can gain true superstar status and become the leader in the side.

Furthermore, Lionel Messi 's success on Monday was the first ever PSG player to win the award - and it was decided based primarily for his achievements at other sides.

The last 12 winners of the award have all played for Spanish clubs, while the last France-based player to win the Ballon d'Or was Marseille striker Jean-Pierre Papin in 1991.

Former France international Emmanuel Petit has claimed that Mbappe is 'tired' of not getting the same recognition as his PSG teammates Lionel Messi and Neymar.

Petit said this week: "I think he's been frustrated and tired by the situation at PSG over the past year.

"We've seen some trouble on the pitch between players both at Paris Saint-Germain and the national team, which was reflective in his game and his mood.

Who do you think has been the best footballer in 2021? Vote below!

"Maybe he's interested in Real Madrid because he's tired of what's happening here in France. I think he gets the feeling sometimes that he doesn't get the same recognition as players like [Lionel] Messi or Neymar.

"Messi, before he came here, he was the king of Barcelona. But for me, the king of Paris Saint-Germain is Mbappe, not Messi or Neymar. With all the respect I have for Messi, Mbappe is still number one."

Speculation over Mbappe's future looks set to rumble on as time ticks ever nearer to his deal in Paris expiring on 30 June next year.