Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has said Kylian Mbappe “must have changed his dream” when he decided to remain at Paris Saint-Germain — and has said the World Cup winner is “no longer the Mbappe I wanted to bring to Madrid”.
In May, The Athletic revealed that Mbappe, 23, had agreed personal terms with Real Madrid.
But the forward eventually decided to remain in Paris after further talks with the club, signing a lucrative new contract and infuriating Madrid in the process.
"His dream was to play at Real Madrid," Perez told El Chiringuito.
"We wanted to do it last August and they didn’t let him leave, he kept saying he wanted to play at Madrid and 15 days before that changed the situation."
"This is not the Mbappe I wanted to bring, he is another one, who must have changed his dream."
"He changes, he is offered other things, he is pressured and he is already another footballer."
"There is no-one at Real Madrid above the club. He is a great player, he can win more than others, but it is a collective sport and we have values and principles that we cannot change."
La Liga have subsequently stepped up their complaints against both PSG and Manchester City by filing a complaint to UEFA about a potential breach of Financial Fair Play regulations.
"La Liga understands that the irregular financing of these clubs is carried out, either through direct money injections or through sponsorship and other contracts that do not correspond to market conditions or make economic sense," the league said on Wednesday.
Both PSG and City have vigorously defended themselves against similar complaints in the past.
Perez has long seen Mbappe as the jewel to make sure his shiny new Santiago Bernabeu stadium is full of trophy celebrations and eager fans once it is officially opened. The stadium is currently under redevelopment.
Perez has made no secret of this wish, which some have described as an obsession, and has conditioned his club’s entire transfer policy for at least two years.
Before PSG played Real Madrid in the Champions League last month, a source close to the dressing room in Madrid said: "Everybody here hopes to count on him next season."