Monaco director gives insight into Real Madrid target Mbappé
The sporting director at Monaco, Antonio Cordón, spoke to AS about the development of the club in the French league and of the young striker making the headlines.
AS Monaco are having an excellent season, currently sitting top of the French Ligue 1 and into the quarter finals of the Champions League, having knocked out Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City. The club’s sporting director, Antonio Cordón, took some time out of his busy schedule to speak with Diario AS about the direction the club is taking and, of course, how he sees the future for young star, Kylian Mbappé.
Monaco need Champions League or league title
“There are still two months to go and we don’t consider anything as success until we get to May.” That was the very clear view from Cordón who is trying to avoid the adulation already being thrust upon the side from the principality until it they have something to show for it. “We are having a good race and we’re now on the final straight,” he maintained, allowing a neat metaphor with the F1 activity that Monaco is also famed.
He may already feel comfortable in his new role but it was only last summer that he moved from Spanish side Villarreal and making the Champions League quarter finals, after starting in the qualifying stage, is some achievement.
“It’s a nice prize,” he said, “we are among the best eight teams in Europe which is very significant, but, in the end, what counts is titles”.
Transfer requests and Mbappé
With Monaco’s impressive performances come the expected increased interest in the club's players and we asked Cordón how much of a challenge it was to hold onto their stars.
“Monaco is able to retain its players. There are no financial difficulties. It’s a big club and an historic one. Not every player that we receive an offer for needs to be sold.”
And although the topic of finances is not the sporting director’s responsibility, the question was put to him about what could happen on the back of the intense interest shown in young star, Mbappé.
“In Spain, in France, Italy, England… In all the biggest leagues you hear his name as a potential reinforcement for all the big teams. I can’t put a value on the transfer fee. You pay top dollar for the top players and each club decides what it wants to pay for each player.
The Cristiano and Messi question
Will he reach the level of Cristiano and Messi? “Time will tell, but he is showing signs of reaching the very top.”
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