Kylian Mbappe has revealed he gave serious consideration to a move to Arsenal this summer before eventually opting for his boyhood club Paris Saint-Germain.
The 18-year-old striker was the subject of a stunning £87million bid from the Gunners in June that was swiftly rejected by Monaco.
Arsenal were hardly the only club hunting Mbappe, who would ultimately opt to return to his hometown of Paris on loan ahead of a £166m to PSG transfer next summer.
Arsene Wenger had almost signed Mbappe on a free in the summer of 2016 before the forward opted to sign a new deal at Monaco. And while the Arsenal manager returned for the striker after a season in which he scored 26 goals in 44 appearances he was unable to dissuade Mbappe from returning home.
“Yes, I met with Arsene Wenger, who is a great coach,” Mbappe told the Telegraph. “He has a great reputation here in France, he’s well-respected and knows how to develop young players. This was a real option for me. But, of course, Paris Saint-Germain was the main option.
“We weighed up the advantages and disadvantages of all the clubs but my family told me it had to be my decision and one I needed to make. It also had to be a long-term decision. So it was up to me and I decided to come here in order to develop.”
In Pictures | Kylian Mbappe's meteoric rise at Monaco
After Mbappe completed his move to PSG Wenger remained glowing in his praise, comparing the youngster to Brazilian icon Pele.
Whilst Mbappe, who had only played 11 senior games prior to last season, welcomed the comparisons with one of the greatest players in football history he remains focused on fulfilling his prodigious talent.
“It’s really incredible to be compared to a player like ‘King Pele’ who is the King of Football,” he said. “But what I must think about is working hard and following my own pathway and not thinking about people who compare you to other players.”
