The Kylian Mbappe transfer saga rolls on and the Frenchman is free to leave Paris Saint Germain for nothing this summer, despite being one of the most valuable players in the world.
Real Madrid have been linked with a move for Mbappe and the Frenchman seems destined to join Los Blancos after a failed world-record move last summer.
Mbappe proved first-hand just how prolific he can be, as he produced a stunning last-minute winner against Madrid in the Champions League to put PSG in the driving seat ahead of the second leg at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Facing his potential new employers, it was always likely that Mbappe would have to address the constant rumours, but it's far from the first time that the Frenchman has spoken about Madrid.
Here Mirror Football looks at everything that Mbappe has said about Madrid after his latest transfer update...
Zidane's initial Mbappe admission - November 5, 2019
Mbappe to Madrid may seem like a fairly recent revelation, but French icon and former Los Blancos boss Zinedine Zidane claimed that it was his dream to move in the future.
Zidane is an influence for almost every French footballer, and admitted that Mbappe wanted to join Madrid in the future as the pair held a close relationship.
The former boss said: "I don't know, it's the player who decides. At the moment he plays for Paris Saint-Germain, we'll see in the future if that changes.
"I know he always said his dream is to play for Real Madrid."
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"Desperate to go" - February 20, 2020
Mbappe has already trained with Madrid, although it was at the young age of 14, and the Frenchman opened up about his awe for the club, as he was "desperate to go."
The Frenchman revealed: "Right before my 14th birthday, I got an incredible surprise.
"My father received a call from someone at Real Madrid, inviting me to come to Spain for a training session over the holiday break.
"It was a shock because they actually told my father, 'Zidane would like to see your son.' At the time, Zizou was the sporting director. Of course, I was over the moon. I was desperate to go."
When Mbappe asked to leave - October 5, 2021
After the failed move to Madrid in the summer, Mbappe conducted a long and extensive interview with L'Equipe, and he opened up on many things, including when he asked to leave Paris.
"At the start of the summer, I asked for some time to reflect. Before the Euros, I told the club that I didn’t want to renew, and after the Euros I said I wanted to leave," Mbappe said.
"My ambition was really for everyone to move forward hand in hand, the selling club, the buying club and me. That we work out the best deal possible and go out through the front door. I also wanted to leave my club the time to find a replacement. That everyone would be happy and that I could go on my merry way.
"I also wanted to avoid leaving on a free. But the club decided not to sell me. I was okay with that. I kept playing for the whole month of August and was putting in good performances. I don’t have an issue with that, I’m still at a big team and in a place where I’ve been happy for four years.
"I didn’t want to clash with the club because that would have been ungrateful. It wouldn’t have been appreciative towards a club that welcomed me at 18 and gave me a lot over four years. And then I always want to be playing, to show that I’m a top player, that nothing fazes me, even a failed transfer, and that I can make the difference up until the final day."
Disappointed not to leave PSG - October 5, 2021
"At the time, I was a bit disappointed to stay," he admitted.
"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.
"I stayed and I’m really happy. At no point during the season will you hear behaviour along the lines of ‘you didn’t let me leave, I’m going to take it easy’. I have too much love for football and too much respect for the club and for myself, to take it easy even for one game.
"Of course. Real made an offer. 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. 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.
"When your president says in front of the entire world that you’re not going to leave, nor leave on a free… at the time, I was a bit worried, I’m not going to lie. I said to myself, ‘if I’m not leaving on a free, what’s going to happen to me?’ After that, you distance yourself and tell yourself that it’s their way of showing their attachment. It means that the club likes me and won’t let me leave."
Staying put at PSG - October 5, 2021
"PSG decided not to sell me and I was OK with that decision," Mbappe said. "I kept playing in August and I didn’t have a problem with that, I’m still playing for a great team in a place where I was and I still am happy.
"Why did I want to go? I thought my adventure there was over, I wanted to discover a new thing. If I had left this summer it would only have been to join Real Madrid. Leaving was a logical step in my career.
"Is my departure confirmed? The truth of yesterday is not the truth of today, nor that of tomorrow. If I had been told that Messi was going to play for PSG, I would not have believed him. So, we don’t know what can happen.
"What would make me stay at PSG? We’re far from that, since I wanted to leave last summer. I won’t be a hypocrite and throw a bottle to the sea like “Oh, I don’t know”. This summer, my goal was clear."
Latest update - February 15, 2022
Mbappe sparked wild celebrations as he executed a delightful piece of skill before rolling the ball under Thibaut Courtois with just seconds remaining of their first leg tie against Madrid.
The Frenchman had multiple chances to score, but atoned for Lionel Messi's penalty miss to give PSG the advantage, as he faced his potential employers for the first time following his failed summer move.
At the final whistle, Mbappe said: "I've not decided my future. I play for Paris Saint-Germain, one of the best clubs in the world.
"This game to influence my future? No – I’ve not decided, I give my best and then we will see what happens next season."
