United's Missed Mbappé Transfer
Manchester United rejected the chance to sign teenage Kylian Mbappé after scouting assessment.
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Key Points
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United’s scouting assessment came after a scout traveled to Paris to watch Mbappé during Monaco’s match against Paris Saint-Germain.
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Giggs said the tipster, who introduced himself as Lionel, later emailed him details about Mbappé; Giggs and assistant Albert Stuivenberg then attended several Monaco youth matches and were immediately impressed, saying, “wow, what is this?”
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The missed opportunity occurred while Louis van Gaal was Manchester United’s manager and Giggs was part of the club’s coaching staff.
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Mbappé later moved from Monaco to Paris Saint-Germain for a reported £162 million, described by the reports as the second-most expensive transfer in football history at the time.
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By the time of the reports, Mbappé had won the World Cup with France, scored a hat-trick in a World Cup final, won the tournament’s Golden Boot and become its all-time leading scorer.
Manchester United had a chance to sign Kylian Mbappé as a teenager at Monaco in 2015 but rejected him, according to former coach Ryan Giggs. The club's scouting department concluded Mbappé was not good enough and passed on the opportunity. Mbappé later joined Paris Saint-Germain and became one of football's biggest stars, winning the World Cup with France and eventually signing with Real Madrid.
Giggs said a stranger named Lionel tipped him off about the young forward, prompting Giggs and assistant Albert Stuivenberg to watch Monaco youth matches. They were instantly impressed. But United's scouting team rejected the recommendation, choosing instead to pursue other targets like Anthony Martial. The missed signing stands as one of the club's costliest transfer blunders.
How Giggs Discovered Mbappé in Paris
A stranger approached Giggs and provided a tip about an exceptional young forward at Monaco. Giggs and Stuivenberg attended multiple Monaco youth matches in Paris. They immediately saw the talent, saying, "wow, what is this?" The tipster, who identified himself as Lionel, later emailed Giggs with more details about Mbappé's abilities and potential.
United's Scout Said No to Teenage Talent
Despite Giggs' enthusiasm, United's scouting department rejected Mbappé after watching him play. They decided he was not good enough for the club. This assessment happened while Louis van Gaal served as Manchester United's manager. United instead focused on other young players, including signing Anthony Martial as their primary attacking target.
Mbappé's Path to Global Stardom
Mbappé moved from Monaco to Paris Saint-Germain in a reported £162 million transfer, making it the second-most expensive football deal at that time. He won the World Cup with France and scored a hat-trick in the final. Mbappé became football's all-time leading World Cup scorer and won the Golden Boot. He eventually joined Real Madrid, cementing his status as one of sport's elite talents.
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