Mbappé to Madrid: How does this rank amongst the best free transfers of all time?

A few years ago, no one could have predicted that Kylian Mbappé, one of the world's elite goal scorers and the globe's preeminent speedster, would join Real Madrid without the Spanish giants paying a single transfer fee.

The French superstar, who is also a feature in football's wealth ranking, was so coveted by every top manager and club that Paris Saint-Germain reportedly slapped a €220 million price tag on their prized asset. 

But in an earth-shattering turn of events, Mbappé rejected a lucrative contract extension from PSG before announcing his desire to leave as a free agent when his deal expired.

The news shook the football world and gave new hope to Real Madrid in their long pursuit of the 25-year-old World Cup winner. 

Weeks later, Los Blancos stunningly signed Mbappé on a free transfer, where he will unite with his fellow French internationals and begin his quest for a Champions League trophy. 

While Madrid fans celebrate Mbappé's free transfer, there are unanswered questions. Can Mbappé repay the faith? How will Ancelotti integrate him without affecting Endrick and Güler's game-time? And who were the best players to make similar free transfers before him? 

You'll find the answers in this article as we analyse the blockbuster move and give our verdicts.

The Mbappé effect: Trophies, accolades, and playing style

Kylian Mbappé needs no introduction; his achievements, records, and stats speak for themselves. The lethal striker isn't just another talented player; he's a world-class superstar and an integral part of the star-studded French national team.

How do you know a world-class player—by record, trophies, caps, or personal accolades? Interestingly, he checks all the boxes. 

He became Monaco's youngest-ever player and scorer during the 2015/16 season, the youngest Frenchman to score in a Champions League knockout match, and the youngest ever to score 15 career Champions League goals.

At just 25 years old, he is already PSG's all-time top scorer with 256 goals in 308 games, 56 more than second-placed Edinson Cavani.

Contrary to the popular selfishness claim in some quarters, the Frenchman has 49 assists for PSG, just 25 behind Angel Di Maria's club record.

Meanwhile, he is one of the most decorated youngsters in the world, having won 7 Ligue 1 titles, 4 French Cups, the 2018 World Cup, 3 Ligue 1 Young Player awards, 3 French Player of the Year honours, 6 Ligue 1 Golden Boots, 5 Ligue 1 Player of the Season accolades, etc.

A player with such a massive CV must be doing something extraordinary on the pitch. Mbappé is an explosive goal-getter with blistering speed and shooting ability. 

He scored 15 goals and assisted 11 more in his first professional season, helping Monaco win a long-awaited league title. 

Despite his goal-scoring exploits, Mbappé is versatile and pacy enough to play from the left wing, where he would torment defenders, cut inside, and curl the ball into the far corner. 

His 35.19 km/h speed at the 2022 World Cup ranked him as the 8th fastest player in the tournament.

The ex-Monaco star is calm and collected in the box, as he often carefully picks a perfect spot for his finishes. 

He would drift to the side or feint a shot to create a shooting space whenever he's under pressure from opponents.

Though Mbappé favours a simple push-and-run play in wide areas, he is also an exceptional dribbler, with only Jérémy Doku and Hatem Ben Arfa registering more successful dribbles in Ligue 1 during 2020/21.

Mbappe to Real Madrid: Three Things to Expect

What should the Santiago Bernabeu fans expect from their new talisman? 

Goals and more goals

Kylian Mbappé is a proven goalscorer who guarantees at least 15 goals per season. Hence, Real Madrid supporters should expect match-winning goals from their latest acquisition. 

More attacking threats

Last season, Los Blancos scored a whopping 87 league goals and won the league and Champions League trophies without a world-class centre-forward.

If Madrid could achieve such feats with Joselu, imagine the damage they could cause with Mbappé and Endrick. 

More tactical options and deeper squad depth

Carlo Ancelotti is a tactically sound manager who can adopt different formations based on the players at his disposal.  

Earlier in the season, he deployed his preferred 4-3-3 formation to occupy Joselu on the front line.  

But as the season progressed, the former Bayern Munich boss switched to 4-4-2, giving Rodrygo and Vinicius Junior the nod in the attack while Bellingham was the playmaker. 

Interestingly, now that Mbappé is on the team, Ancelotti can explore different options, including 4-3-3, 4-5-1, 4-2-3-1, or 3-5-2. 

Mbappé will lead the attack, while Vinicius, Rodrygo, and Bellingham will provide service and support in a 4-2-3-1 formation. 

Rodrygo could lose his place in the starting lineup if Ancelotti uses the Frenchman as a winger in a 4-3-3 setup. Mbappé will thus partner Bellingham and Vinicius in the final third. 

Meanwhile, Endrick and Guler are other available options, as they possess unique traits that can trouble any defence. Therefore, as you can see, Madrid's squad depth is insane. 

Best free transfers of the past

1. Robert Lewandowski (from Borussia Dortmund to Bayern Munich)

After 312 league goals and 75 assists for Borussia Dortmund, football fans expected a big-money transfer for Lewandowski, one of modern football's best finishers, but that wasn't the case in 2014.  

The then-25-year-old Polish striker left Signal Iduna Park for Bayern Munich as a free agent, and it became one of the most successful free transfers in the game's history. 

He led the Bavarians to eight consecutive Bundesliga titles, six top scorer's awards, and two European Golden Shoes. 

2. Andrea Pirlo (from AC Milan to Juventus)

Andrea Pirlo stunned the world when he completed a free transfer to Juventus from AC Milan in 2011.

Arguably the best midfielder of his generation, Pirlo's spell at the San Siro Stadium was so productive that the Italian giant earned a fat paycheck for his services.  

Nonetheless, the then-32-year-old Azzurri legend had a glittering career with the Old Lady, winning four consecutive Serie A titles. 

3. Zlatan Ibrahimovic (from PSG to Manchester United)

Manchester United completed a shocking free transfer move for Zlatan Ibrahimovic in 2016.  

In one of the best free transfers in the game, the former PSG, AC Milan, and Barcelona star signed a one-year contract with José Mourinho's side. 

Unfortunately, a knee injury affected his impact at Old Trafford, limiting him to only 33 games and 17 league goals. 

4. Lionel Messi (from Barcelona to PSG)

It was an emotional day for football lovers when Messi, the best left-footed player of all time, announced he would change clubs for the first time in his career. 

Unfortunately, things didn't work out as planned for the eight-time Balon d'Or winner at the Parc de Prince Stadium, where he scored only 11 goals. 

Nonetheless, he helped the French powerhouse retain the Ligue 1 title before moving to Major League Soccer (MLS). 

Mbappé's Transfer: Hype vs. History

No doubt, Mbappé's move to Real Madrid is one of the best free transfers in recent football history.  

It's a deal with a promising future, considering the team he's about to join. Mbappé will bring his winning mentality, experience, and overall quality to a star-studded squad.

Having the Frenchman, Bellingham, Endrick, Vinicius, Rodrygo, and Arda Guler in one attack is massive and fear-inspiring. It's a blend of youthfulness, pace, skill, power, and experience that will torment any defence. 

Los Blancos are a team to beat in the coming season, and fans can't wait to see how events unfold. 

Our final verdict

While Real Madrid fans and pundits have various reasons to expect so much from this transfer, they must tread carefully because we've seen some unexpected flops. 

Eden Hazard joined Los Blancos with so much potential and promises, but the Belgium international didn't live up to expectations.

Kaka didn't deliver at Santiago Bernabeu following his move from AC Milan. Philippe Coutinho made his dream move to Barcelona from Liverpool, but the Brazilian couldn't produce tangible results. 

This isn't to discourage you from being excited about Mbappé's Madrid career, but to prepare you for any outcome.