Former Arsenal scout regrets failing to sign Mbappe

By Peter Ochieng

Former Arsenal scout Gilles Grimandi is a man living in regret.

He is not at peace for failing to convince PSG super start Kylian Mbappe to join Arsenal, when Arsene Wenger was the manager.

After a breakthrough season at French Ligue 1 side Monaco during the 2016/17 season, the French striker was linked to joining several teams, including Arsenal.

He however ultimately decided to join Paris Saint-Germain.

Grimandi said they failed to convince Mbappe in 2016, and that he is not sure whether the 25-year-old player will ever join Arsenal.

"I don’t know whether Kylian Mbappe is a realistic target for Arsenal, even if the club wins the Premier League and has a strong season in Europe. We tried to convince him before, in 2016," Grimandi told Ladbrokes Fanzone, as quoted by Goal.

"We met his parents in London who came to the training ground and alongside Arsene [Wenger, then manager] and Richard Law [then transfer chief] we travelled to meet Kylian in the South of France. We tried to convince him, but I don’t think it was the best time for us; that meeting took place the day after we’d just lost to Swansea at home in the League, which itself followed a defeat at Old Trafford," he added.

"I’d say it is probably the biggest disappointment in my 15 years as an Arsenal scout, not convincing Kylian Mbappe to sign for the club."

Mbappe has gone on to become one of the best players in the world.

He was one of the star performers during France national team's 2018 world cup triumph in 2018 and the 2022 road to the final.

Mbappe has scored 233 goals and provided 100 assists in 282 games for PSG.

His contract with the French giants expires in the summer of 2024.

The Frenchman is highly expected to join Spanish giants Real Madrid.