Ex-Arsenal scout opens up on failing to convince Mbappe to make Gunners transfer
Former Arsenal scout Gilles Grimandi has admitted not convincing Kylian Mbappe to join the Gunners is his biggest disappointment from his 15 years in the role.
Grimandi, who made 169 appearances for Arsenal during his playing career, joined the Gunners as a scout in 2006 after being linked with the director of football position at the Emirates.
And in his time at the Gunners, Grimandi looked to strike a deal for Mbappe when the forward was 14 and playing for AS Bondy. However, Mbappe instead decided to join Monaco.
Mbappe has since gone on to become one of the greatest footballers on the planet, after moving to Paris Saint-Germain, with the club eventually paying £156million for his services.
Reflecting on his failed move to sign Mbappe, Grimandi exclusively told Ladbrokes Fanzone: "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. We met his parents in London who came to the training ground and alongside Arsene and Richard Law we travelled to meet Kylian in the South of France.
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"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 and I remember we had a big game away just three days later against Tottenham, so the timing was not ideal.
"We tried, and I really don't think we were far from getting him, but he declined the project and signed a new deal with Monaco. 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.
Gilles Grimandi wanted to bring Kylian Mbappe to Arsenal (Getty Images)"Kylian is the kind of player who can change a club, that's for sure. There aren't so many of those players in the world, it might happen once in your life as a scout or as a manager; signing someone who changes your club, and we just missed out on Mbappe all those years ago."
Mbappe has been in stunning form for Paris Saint-Germain so far this season and has scored 21 goals in 22 appearances in 2023/24. The 25-year-old's record for the Ligue 1 champions over the years is remarkable, and that has seen him heavily linked with moves to Real Madrid and the Premier League.
Grimandi believes the "best clubs" in world football should all be trying to sign Mbappe. He added: "Looking ahead, the best clubs in the world, in which you have to include the English trio of Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester City, should all be trying to sign him because he's a very special talent, and there's a great opportunity for someone to sign him on a free transfer.
"However, my instinct is that he has a love for Real Madrid and also we have to remember that PSG will be very keen that he remains in Paris, so I do not believe he will arrive at Arsenal, but it would be great if he did of course. It would be quite something to see Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe playing in the same division, especially if Mbappe was playing at Arsenal."
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