Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta finally got the chance to meet Kylian Mbappe before the 24-year-old makes a big transfer announcement. Last weekend, Mbappe played his final game for Paris Saint-Germain as they beat Lyon 2-1 to win the French Cup with the attacker playing the full 90 minutes.
Last summer, Mbappe was at the centre of countless transfer stories after confirming he would not be extending his stay in Paris beyond 2024. After initially being excluded from first-team activities, Mbappe returned and expectedly played a huge role in PSG winning their third consecutive Ligue 1 title.
Considering his exit stance did not change throughout the season, Mbappe has been at the forefront of numerous transfer rumours over the last few months despite the expectation he would sign for Real Madrid. With that in mind, Arteta was asked about the possibility of signing the France international and his answer was certainly telling.
“Why not?” he said when asked if Arsenal should be in the conversation to sign Mbappe. “If we want to be the best team, we are going to need the best talent and the best players, that is for sure.” Financially though, it was always a deal that looked impossible to pull off with Madrid one of few teams capable of affording his personal terms.
Official confirmation of the move is yet to arrive though, and thus some slim hope remains a sensational transfer U-turn could occur but that looks likely to be put to rest soon. “I think that the best thing to do is to finish these goodbyes,” Mbappe admitted after the win against Lyon when asked why he had not revealed his next club.
“I think all I wanted was to finish well with my club. There’s a trophy. I think there’s a time for everything. I’ll announce my new club in due course. I think we’re just a few days away, so there’s no problem.” With that likely to come following Madrid’s Champions League final against Borussia Dortmund, Arteta has seemingly spoken to Mbappe.
