Kylian Mbappe’s career could have turned out very differently had Arsenal succeeded in an early bid for his services
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Mbappe, now 27, did at one point travel to London on a trial basis – but not to play for Arsenal. The future World Cup-winner turned out for Chelsea in a youth match against Charlton, which the Blues “won 6-0 or 7-0,” according to Mbappe himself, though remarkably he doesn’t remember being among the scorers.
It later emerged that Wenger was perhaps working at a disadvantage. Despite all his best efforts, he could not convince Mbappe to join him in England, with his family seemingly set on ensuring his youth training continued in France.
French journalist Julien Laurens once told the BBC: “Sending Kylian to develop his game outside of France was never part of the plan. Clubs from all over Europe would say, ‘Come to us’. It was never about the prestige of the club, because he could have gone to Real Madrid, to Chelsea, to Arsenal, to Manchester United. It was always about good academy, good coaches, and in the end he chose Monaco.”
Mbappe graduated from Clairefontaine in the summer of 2013, leaving Bondy to join Ligue 1 outfit Monaco. Within two years, he had been fast-tracked into the senior setup and made his professional debut just before his 17th birthday.
It soon became apparent just what Arsenal had missed out on as Mbappe played a starring role in Les Monegasques’ 2017 league title. Still barely of legal drinking age, he scored 26 goals in all competitions that term as Monaco almost collected a domestic double, and Paris Saint-Germain swiftly snapped up his signature in a £166million agreement (initially on loan).
Had Wenger been successful in adding Mbappe to his ranks, there’s no telling how the club might have benefited. Then again, one could suspect the player wouldn’t have turned into the same generational superstar had he not completed his development on home shores.
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A 2013 move to north London might have even seen Mbappe, who joined Real on a free transfer in 2024, share a field with future Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta. The Spaniard was coming to the end of his playing career, having hung up his boots at the Emirates in 2016.
How the legions of Arsenal fans would have loved to see another frenetic French forward leading their line after mourning the era of Henry. But as much as Wenger might have tried, the odds were always seemingly stacked against in his pledge to sign this particular prospect.
