"After arduous negotiations with Monaco, we are delighted to announce that both parties have officially reached an agreement on Kylian Mbappé's transfer and signed the transfer agreement."
When Real Madrid's official website posted the news, it quickly sparked a fierce reaction around the world.
First came the Spanish media and Real Madrid's fans, followed by the entire European football world, before the news rapidly spread across the globe.
Everyone was astonished by Real Madrid's actions and efficiency. As the hottest young talent in European football this summer, Mbappé was hardly short of suitors: Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona, Manchester United, and Man City...
Almost every major club in Europe had been watching the young Frenchman, yet Real Madrid had ultimately stolen a march on them all. How could that not be shocking?
Soon, everyone began asking the same question: exactly how much had Real Madrid paid in transfer fees?
Before long, Monaco's official announcement followed, declaring that Kylian Mbappé had transferred to Real Madrid for a staggering €120 million, creating a brand-new transfer-fee record in world football.
The news triggered another earthquake across the globe.
All the media and fans were stunned. Everyone knew Mbappé was a sensation with tremendous potential, but this was €120 million—more than Yang Yang's transfer fee back then, and even more than Pogba's the previous year. It was simply outrageous.
AS and Marca, both close to Real Madrid, were the first to reveal the details. They explained that the €120 million transfer fee was divided into two parts. The actual fee was only €80 million, so Yang Yang's transfer record had not been broken. The remaining €40 million consisted of add-ons to be paid over the next three years based on Mbappé's performances at Real Madrid.
In other words, Real Madrid would only have to pay the