LaLiga president Javier Tebas: I hope Mbappé comes to Spain

LaLiga president Javier Tebas is convinced that Paris Saint-Germain will open the door for the French forward Kylian Mbappé to leave this summer and expressed his desire for him to come to Spain.

"I hope he can come," Tebas said on Thursday at the inauguration of LaLiga Promises, which will be played from Friday at the Estadio de la Cerámica in Villarreal.

Tebas believes that PSG are obliged to transfer their star player after he confirmed he intends to leave when his contract expires in 2024.

"If you ask me, as a fan, I think Mbappé will leave PSG this season, because in UEFA there is more economic control and PSG have a very high wage bill," the LaLiga chief added.

Tebas went on to say that "PSG have to unload. By getting rid of Mbappé, who is going into his last year, they will achieve two things, a good transfer fee and a significant reduction in the wage bill, which will bring them closer to UEFA's rules. So he is the biggest candidate for that to happen if PSG want to start complying with the rules for once."

And when asked directly if Real Madrid could be the French striker's destination, he pointed out that "Real Madrid have the capacity to do it."

Tebas would also have liked Lionel Messi to have returned to Barcelona, too. According to him, "as a fan and as president of LaLiga, I would have liked to have Messi in our league. Things are what they are and circumstances come as they come.

"I'm sure Barcelona will bring a great player, apart from the ones they have. They brought Lewandowski, who we have already seen the level he has given. I wish he had come, but what can we do?"

FINANCIAL SITUATION

The president of LaLiga also highlighted the efforts being made by the Catalan club to improve their economic situation. According to him, "the viability plan was approved. That does not mean that they are in the normal 1x1 situation, they are still in the rule of 40%."

Tebas added that "as it was approved to control two seasons, it means that Barcelona has to make efforts, and they are making them, to reduce their wage bill. Today I read that they have informed Mirotic of his termination and that is a very important effort. Barça's entire wage bill is taken into account, including the basketball section. They are making an important effort and we will see if they continue along these lines."