Biggest disappointment of my career? Kylian Mbappe! - Ex-Arsenal scout reveals failing to land French superstar is his main regret

After having a breakthrough season at Monaco in 2016–17, the French attacker was linked to several teams, including Arsenal, but he ultimately decided to join Paris Saint-Germain. With 233 goals and 100 assists in 282 games for the Ligue 1 winners, Mbappe is now one of the top players in the world thanks to the £163 million transfer, which still makes him the second-most expensive football player of all time. However, he reportedly came dangerously close to joining the Gunners as per their former scout, Gilles Grimandi.

"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 [via The Metro].

"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."

"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."

The 25-year-old, who is currently captain of his nation, was also essential to France's World Cup victories in 2018 and 2022's journey to the final. Furthermore, Mbappe's contract with PSG expires in the summer of 2020, and it is anticipated that he will complete a long-awaited move to Real Madrid, albeit nothing is certain as of yet as has been the case throughout the last few years.

The French superstar will be in action again with PSG when they take on Toulouse on Wednesday, January 3 in the final of the Trophee des Champions.