Former Arsenal scout reveals biggest disappointment in career: Failing to sign Kylian Mbappe
In a recent interview, former Arsenal scout Gilles Grimandi expressed his regret over not being able to convince Kylian Mbappe to sign for the club. Grimandi described it as the “biggest disappointment” of his 15-year career with the Gunners.
Back in 2016, Arsenal was among the clubs interested in signing Mbappe after his breakout season with Monaco. However, the French forward ultimately chose to join Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in a £163 million deal, making him the second-most expensive footballer at the time. Since then, Mbappe has established himself as one of the best players in the world, scoring 233 goals and providing 100 assists in 282 appearances for PSG.
Mbappe’s success extends beyond club football, as he played a pivotal role in France’s World Cup triumph in 2018 and their run to the final in 2022. He is now the captain of the national team.
Reflecting on the missed opportunity, Grimandi revealed that Arsenal had made efforts to convince Mbappe and even met with his parents in London. However, the timing was not ideal, as the meeting took place after Arsenal’s consecutive defeats to Swansea and Manchester United. Despite coming close to securing the transfer, Mbappe ultimately decided to sign a new deal with Monaco.
Looking ahead, there have been speculations about Mbappe’s future, with his contract at PSG set to expire next summer. It is widely expected that he will join Real Madrid, although nothing is guaranteed. Grimandi believes that Mbappe has the ability to change a club and suggests that top clubs like Arsenal, Liverpool, and Manchester City should try to sign him on a free transfer. However, he also acknowledges Mbappe’s love for Real Madrid and PSG’s desire to keep him in Paris.
In conclusion, Grimandi considers not signing Mbappe as the biggest disappointment of his career and believes it would have been incredible to see him playing for Arsenal. The prospect of seeing Mbappe and Erling Haaland in the same division is an exciting one, especially if Mbappe were to join Arsenal.
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