Former France international urges Kylian Mbappé to reject Real Madrid for Liverpool | OneFootball

Comments on the part of former France and Arsenal star Robert Pires have piqued widespread attentions across Europe this week.

As much comes after the 50-year-old sent a public message to compatriot Kylian Mbappé, regarding his future.

It is of course world football’s worst-kept secret that frontman Mbappé is all set to take his talents to Spain, with Real Madrid this summer.

After informing the powers that be at long-time club Paris Saint-Germain of his decision not to renew the terms of his expiring contract, the 25-year-old and his entourage have since been locked in intense negotiations with the brass at the Santiago Bernabéu.

This comes with a view to Mbappé fulfilling a lifelong dream of pulling on the colours of Real, starting from next season.

And yet, one fellow countryman of the prolific winger who is of the opinion that Mbappé should reconsider making the move to Madrid comes in the form of the aforementioned Robert Pires.

Speaking in an interview with French outlet Le Media Carre, as cited by Goal, the one-time Arsenal standout this week revealed that, prior to joining the Gunners, he rejected the advances of European football’s most decorated club.

And Pires is of the opinion that Mbappé should do likewise, albeit to join forces with another of the Premier League’s leading clubs, in Liverpool:

“I’m sorry, Kylian, but you weren’t the first player to say no to Real Madrid.

“I don’t know what decision he will make in the end, but I turned Madrid down because I had two other options. I’m sure that if I didn’t have the opportunity of going to Arsenal or Juventus, I would have gone to Real Madrid, that’s for sure.

“I would like to see him at Liverpool. It’s a great family club, there’s a good structure, no pressure, the fans are level-headed… And I think a Salah-Mbappé partnership could be really explosive. I think he is capable of rejecting Real Madrid.”

Conor Laird | GSFN