Perez hints Mbappe's Real Madrid transfer will be done in January

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has publicly declared that he will have news surrounding his side's pursuit of Paris Saint-Germain star Kylian Mbappe in January.

The Spanish giants spent the entirety of the last summer window monitoring Mbappe, reportedly submitting three big-money bids - all of which were swiftly rejected by the Parisians.

However, Perez has since told El Debate: "In January we will have news from Mbappe. We hope that on January 1 everything can be solved."

It did not take long for Perez to at least slightly backtrack, telling RMC : "My words were misinterpreted. What I said is that we have to wait until next year to hear from you, always with respect for PSG with which we have good relations."

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has claimed he will have 'news' on Kylian Mbappe in January (Photo by Samuel de Roman/Getty Images)

Though a move failed to materialise this summer, it was not without trying from Mbappe's perspective - the 22-year-old forward making little secret of his desire to leave.

In a recent interview with L'Équipe, Mbappe conceded he was originally disappointed to remain in the French capital, revealing: "At the time, a bit. When your ambition is to leave and you stay, you're not happy about it. But I quickly moved on.

"Unfortunately I got injured while on international duty. I came back quickly, I had the time to mourn over it while there weren't any matches. When I came back, I scored and I performed well once again."

Mbappe went on to discuss the interest from Real, admitting they had made an offer while also dismissing claims he had rejected multiple contract offers from PSG.

"When I say that lots of things were heard, I'm talking about something else - people said that I turned down six or seven renewal offers, no way! People were saying that I didn't want to talk to Leonardo, even though it's the president [ Nasser Al-Khelaifi ] who wanted to take things over," he said.

"When I'm told to speak with the president, I'm not going to say no. People were saying I was planning on messing around in the dressing room - again, not at all."

Mbappe's documented desire to call time on his PSG career inevitably led to sections of the Parc Des Princes faithful to turn on their talisman.

Many players could have in turn stopped playing altogether, or suffered a breakdown with the fanbase entirely - Mbappe opted for a more empathetic approach.

"I took the issue in a different way. I told myself that in their position, I would have booed as well.

"In this transfer, who knew what? We heard a lot of things. I didn't say to myself, ' After all I've done, they boo me', no, I took it as a sign of affection.

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Kylian Mbappe was jeered by the PSG faithful after he made clear he wanted to leave ( Image:

NurPhoto/PA Images)

"They didn't want me to leave, that means I am more important. I was clear with myself over this situation."

The Athletic reports that PSG would have been more willing to let Mbappe leave had Real Madrid offered a figure closer to the world record €220m PSG spent themselves on Neymar four years ago.

Perez was unwilling to pay such a fee given Mbappe is available for free as early as this summer, while January could see the Frenchman pen a pre-contractual agreement with the Spanish giants.