Kylian Mbappe may be too young for us – we don’t want a Paul Pogba on our hands, says Real Madrid chief
Florentino Perez admits he admires AS Monaco sensation but casts doubts over his age while aiming a cheeky dig at Manchester United's record signing
FLORENTINO PEREZ has cast doubts on a swoop for Kylian Mbappe - aiming a jibe at Manchester United in the process.
The Real Madrid supremo suggested the French starlet may struggle to find a spot in Zinedine Zidane's squad at just 18.
And he warned of the dangers of signing a player without a clear role to fill - referencing United's world record signing Pogba.
Perez, 70, told esRadio: "We should not forget what happened to Pogba.
"Mbappe is very young and a very good player, I like all good players, but the players are 24 and only play 11.
"There are many good players that I liked and had no place.
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"We will do our best. Right now we have the best template in the world, as has been shown.
"The players have to have a place and, for example, I did not see it last season with Pogba.
"Zidane has had contact with the player for several years because he has followed him, as happened with Varane.
"But at 18, few players play for Real Madrid. You have to be patient."
Perez's comments do not rule out a switch for Mbappe, who has been courted by Arsenal, Manchester United, Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain.
But they do hint he may be prepared to let him join a rival and continue to develop - safe in the knowledge Real always get their man eventually.
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
Zidane secured the club's third Champions League trophy in four seasons in Cardiff last month to highlight Madrid's dominance.
They are closing in on left-back Theo Hernandez and Marca are claiming the French boss has "completed the puzzle."
