Kylian Mbappe’s move from Nike to Swiss sportswear company On came with a major financial decision, with the Real Madrid forward turning down a contract that would have placed him among the highest-paid athletes in the world for sponsorship.
Mbappe officially ended his long association with Nike after his contract expired this summer.
The Frenchman stopped wearing the American brand at the end of July before eventually agreeing to a long-term partnership with On.
L’Equipe has now revealed just how hard Nike tried to keep the Real Madrid superstar, with the company prepared to offer terms that would have made Mbappe’s endorsement deal one of the biggest in sport.
Nike offered Mbappe more than €20m every year
According to the report, Nike presented Mbappe with a 10-year contract worth more than €20 million per year during negotiations over a new agreement.
Kylian Mbappe thanked Nike in an emotional post. (Source: Instagram)
Had he accepted, the deal would have put Mbappe alongside NBA superstar LeBron James as one of the best-paid athletes in the world from an equipment sponsorship.
Nike’s offer showed the value the company placed on keeping one of football’s biggest global stars.
Mbappe had been associated with the brand since childhood and continued wearing Nike boots even after his previous agreement had expired.
Ultimately, though, the Frenchman chose a different direction.
Mbappe begins new chapter with On
Mbappe has now become one of the central figures in On’s expansion into football, signing a 10-year partnership with the Swiss company.
View this post on Instagram
The decision is certainly a major shift for a player whose relationship with Nike stretched back to his childhood. Mbappe himself acknowledged the significance of ending that chapter in a message shared on Instagram.
Reflecting on his long association with Nike, the Real Madrid forward wrote: “Some decisions are harder to make than others. Nike has been a part of my life since I was a child.”
Mbappe then looked back to the beginning of that relationship, recalling that he was “ 7 years old when this story began.”
Now, Mbappe has opted to build a new relationship with On at a point when his profile at Real Madrid continues to grow.
Vinicius Jr., Real Madrid player
Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images
Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho has reportedly laid down clear instructions for Vinicius Jr. ahead of the Madrid derby against Atletico, with the Portuguese coach keen to keep his forward away from distractions at the Metropolitano.
According to Defensa Central, Mourinho has spoken directly with the Brazilian about his approach to the game.
With Real Madrid looking to make an early statement against their city rivals, the manager wants Vinicius focused entirely on his football rather than the atmosphere surrounding the fixture.
The derby is expected to be fiercely contested, with Diego Simeone’s Atletico unlikely to make life comfortable for Madrid, making discipline particularly important for Mourinho as he prepares his side for one of the biggest fixtures of the season.
Mourinho wants Vinicius focused on football
The message from Mourinho is understood to be simple: Vinicius must concentrate on the match and avoid getting dragged into confrontations.
Jose Mourinho and Vinicius of Real Madrid
Mourinho does not want Vinicius to confront the stands. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)
The Brazilian has frequently been targeted by opposition supporters, while his exchanges with referees and fans have also become part of the conversation around his performances. Mourinho wants that cycle broken in the derby.
The Portuguese coach has, thus, told Vinicius not to confront the stands or the referee, believing such incidents can take the forward away from his responsibilities and ultimately hurt Real Madrid.
Instead, Mourinho expects the winger to stay involved on both sides of the ball.
His attacking threat will obviously be central to Madrid’s plans, but the manager also wants him to contribute defensively and remain connected to his teammates throughout the contest.
Mourinho has already defended Vinicius
Mourinho’s instructions come with some context. After Real Madrid’s victory over Espanyol at the RCDE Stadium, the manager spoke openly about the treatment Vinicius receives during matches.
Vinicius Jr., Real Madrid player
Mourinho wants Vinicius to focus just on football. (Photo by Francisco Macia/Getty Images)
Defending his forward while acknowledging that the Brazilian is not without fault, Mourinho said: “Vini Jr. isn’t a saint, but what they’re doing to him is too much. It starts right from the first minute.
“I think it’s a pattern, something that repeats itself from one opponent to the next.”
That situation helps explain why Mourinho is now trying to manage the situation rather than just asking Vinicius to ignore it.
Hence, for Vinicius, the ideal outcome is to let his football do the talking.