Arsene Wenger directly phones Kylian Mbappe to persuade him to join Arsenal… despite teen seeing it as a ‘stepping stone’
Gunners boss also spoke to the in-demand forward about a career plan for the striker's future
ARSENE WENGER directly contacted Monaco starlet Kylian Mbappe - who sees a move to Arsenal as a 'stepping stone'.
The experienced French boss spoke on the phone to the teenager and offered him career advice as the striker is still pondering his next move.
According to L'Equipe, 'very little detail' about the pair's conversation was revealed.
But it is believed they spoke about a potential move to the Emirates as well as a plan for the striker's whole career.
The pair's conversation comes after it was reported in La Parisien that the forward would join Arsenal with the intention of moving on to the likes of Real Madrid or Barcelona.
A source said: "Kylian is currently thinking things over.
Kylian Mbappe factfile
- Born in Bondy, a suburb of Paris, on December 20, 1998
- Joined Moncao in 2013 after two years at the famed French national football centre, Clairefontaine
- Made his Monaco debut on December 2, 2015 - beating Thierry Henry's 21-year-old record to become the club's youngest ever player aged 16 years, 347 days
- Scored his first goal for the club in February 2016 and become Monaco's youngest ever scorer aged, 17 years, 62 days, once again beating a Thierry Henry record
- In February 2017, become the youngest player since 2005 to score a Ligue 1 hat-trick, aged 18 years and two months
- Took the Champions League by storm, helping Monaco to the semi-final of the competition with six goals in nine matches
- Finished the season with 26 goals in all competitions and was named in the Ligue 1 and the Champions League teams of the season
- Made his France debut in March 27 against Luxembourg - becoming the second youngest French player ever (behind Maryan Wisnieski) at 18 years, 3 months, 5 days
“Either he will go to a stepping-stone club, or directly to a great club.
“But his aim is very clear: to sign for one of the two biggest clubs in the world, they are Real Madrid or Barcelona for him, before reaching the age of 22.”
The 18-year-old has also been heavily linked with a move to Paris Saint-Germain.
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Mbappe helped fire Monaco to the Ligue 1 title last season as well as to the semi-finals of the Champions League.
The forward netted 24 goals last season - notching in crucial games against Juventus, Borussia Dortmund and Manchester City in the Champions League.
