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Kylian Mbappe of Paris Saint-Germain looks on in the Ligue 1 game against Strasbourg at Stade de la Meinau stadium in Strasbourg, France, February 2, 2024. /CFP

Kylian Mbappe of Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) wants to join Real Madrid after the 2023-24 season, according to ESPN on Saturday. The news was first reported by Le Parisien.

Mbappe's contract with PSG will expire this summer. The French heavyweights offered him an extension that would pay him more than his current annual salary of 72 million euros (about $77.8 million), but it was turned down by the 25-year-old French striker.

ESPN revealed that if Mbappe leaves PSG as a free agent, he will give up a bonus of as much as 100 million euros (about $108.1 million). Moreover, Real will pay him no more than half of his salary in PSG.

Considering that Mbappe previously rejected an offer of reportedly 700 million euros a year from a Saudi club, money doesn't look like it's the most important factor when he decides his next stop. As one of those players who has been dreaming about playing for Real, he considers winning the top club honor in Europe, which is the UEFA Champions League, as one of his major career priorities now.

Kylian Mbappe (L) of Paris Saint-Germain passes the ball in the second-leg game of the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid, Spain, March 9, 2022. /CFP

Having played nearly six seasons at PSG, Mbappe has scored 241 goals and delivered 105 assists for the club in 288 games. He won five straight Ligue 1 titles and three Coupe de France trophies among other honors with the club. The closest he came to winning the Champions was in the 2019-20 season. PSG reached the final of the tournament but lost to Bayern Munich.

By contrast, Real won five of the past 10 Champions League titles and, during that time, they beat PSG twice in the knockout stage, both in Round of 16.

According to ESPN, Mbappe has not informed either PSG or Real of his decision. It will be an important part of his negotiations with Real for him to play for France at the coming Olympic Games in Paris this year.