Arsenal News: Arsene Wenger claims Arsenal nearly signed Kylian Mbappe TWICE

ARSENE WENGER has claimed Arsenal nearly signed Kylian Mbappe twice.

Arsenal News: Kylian MbappeREUTERS

Arsenal News: Arsene Wenger tried to sign Kylian Mbappe before PSG

Mbappe joined Paris Saint-Germain on loan from Monaco last month with a view to a permanent £166million deal next summer.

The move is considered highly controversial given the Financial Fair Play (FFP) scrutiny on PSG following their £200m signing of Neymar.

Arsenal were one of a number of top European clubs interested in the 18-year-old France wonderkid, along with Real Madrid and Barcelona.

And Gunners boss Arsene Wenger has claimed he nearly signed Mbappe last year and this summer.

Ahead of Arsenal’s 3-0 win over Bournemouth yesterday, Wenger said: “Well, I believe that we were on the case last year.

"He was close to joining us, maybe closer last year than this year because the competition was a bit smaller than it is today.

“I personally think for 90 per cent of players, their careers depend on where they choose to go. But for 10 per cent of players, they can choose where they want and they will make a great career.

"He is in the 10 per cent. He can close his eyes and chose "I'll go here, I'll go there" to Madrid, to Arsenal, to Manchester United and he'll have a great career, he's an exceptional football player."

Mbappe made his PSG debut on Friday and market it with a memorable strike in their 5-1 win over Metz.

And Mbappe was delighted to be playing alongside world-class stars like Neymar and Edinson Cavani.

He said: “I always wanted to play with great players, I had the opportunity to play with what is best in France and perhaps in Europe.

"I will try to learn from their movements, their professionalism. All I wanted to do is be at the ground. I was very happy, I had a lot of fun, the rest I will manage to adapt to."

Of his first strike in PSG colours he added: "It was a nice goal, I wanted to pass Ney, the defender intercepts, I react faster than my opponent and I power it in."

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