Real Madrid should sign Mbappé: Maradona’s message to Florentino Pérez
In a chat with AS journalist Marco Ruiz, the Argentinean star said he’d told the Real Madrid president to sign Mbappé, who is the toast of European football
Diego Maradona told Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez he should sign Kylian Mbappé. At least that’s what the Argentinean legend, who passed away in November last year, told Marco Ruiz, a journalist with this newspaper, back in 2017.
Mbappé, long heralded as the one of the stars of the upcoming generation of players is once again the focus of attention after his hat-trick against Barcelona on Tuesday night.
Maradona: Real Madrid should sign Mbappé
In the video, Maradona starts by saying the Mbappé is the breakout player, a player who could “be better than many”. Journalist Ruiz wonders about Real Madrid signing him, to which Maradona replies, “But, why don’t they sign him?!”
The Napoli and Argentina legend then says: “I told Florentino Pérez: sign Mbappé!”. Ruiz asks him if he really said it. “But I told him!” replies Maradona. Ruiz is still incredulous: “Where?” he asks. “When we saw each other in the…FIFA!” explains Maradona.
According to Maradona, Pérez's excuse for not signing the rising star was that he had Cristiano Ronaldo, and several others. Maradona says he told him again to “sign Mbappé!”
Ruiz asks Maradona what Real Madrid would do with Bale if they signed Mbappé. “Listen, they sell Bale. But not give him away, Florentino won’t give anything away!" Maradona explaisn.
Real Madrid had the chance to sign Mbappé
Real Madrid had the chance to bring in Mbappé in 2017, but despite having an agreement with Monaco for the player (who was a Real Madrid fan as a kid), Florentino Pérez decided not to sell Bale, meaning Mbappé felt he would have little chance getting playing time. He decided to move to PSG instead of to the Spanish capital.
With Real Madrid struggling to score since they sold Cristiano Ronaldo to Juventus, Real Madrid president Pérez is once again under pressure to make a move for Mbappé.
The deal does not appear to be an easy one to pull off for Real Madrid - PSG have allegedly slapped a €200 million price tag on Mbappé.