Kylian Mbappe? Chelsea have known about him for six years. Zinedine Zidane was his minder in Madrid three years ago. And now, the world is getting to know AS Monaco's 17 year-old sensation.

Chelsea and Real Madrid haven't forgotten about the teen. But they should've acted swifter. Since Leonardo Jardim, Monaco's head coach, gave Mbappe his debut this season, Europe's biggest have come calling.

Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, Manchester City and Manchester United have all made enquiries about Mbappe since his breakthrough game against Saint Etienne. Still to turn pro, the youngster's current deal expires in June and after seeing United agree to an €80 million fee with ASM for Anthony Martial, chairmen across Europe have spotted the chance to land a genuine bargain.

For many inside French football, Mbappe is a bigger talent than Martial was at the same age. And thanks to Jardim's backing, he is now the youngest player to make his ASM debut - beating the previous record set by Arsenal legend Thierry Henry.

Another graduate of the famed Clairefontaine academy, Mbappe spent two years with the football school before signing with ASM.

"He was a super talent," recalls Souleymane Camara, head of Monaco's youth recruitment. "He was one of our priorities."

ASM had to fight off the attention of Real Madrid, no less, when Mbappe became available at the age of 14.

"One day I got a phone call and it was the recruitment manager (from Real Madrid), who invited Kylian for a week's trial," recalls father, Wilfried, a coach with AS Bondy.

Mum, Fayza, a former professional handball player, adds: "We did not go to Madrid to learn more about the potential of our son but to please him. He's been a fan of Real since childhood."

At Real, Zidane, then on Jose Mourinho's staff, took Mbappe under his wing.

"It was a special week for him," says Wilfried. "The trial happened during the week of his birthday.

"Real wanted Kylian to stay. But moving abroad wasn't what we wanted at that time."

Instead, Mbappe chose ASM, ahead of Real, City and Chelsea, which had kept in touch since a training stint at Cobham as an 11 year-old. Along with the three-year club deal he signed, Mbappe's growing reputation also landed him a long-term endorsement contract with Nike.

"The project appealed to me as the club wishes to highlight youth," explains Mbappe about choosing ASM. "My parents were also excited about this project."

With Dad a coach - it was at Bondy where Kylian began his junior career - and Mum a former pro handball player, football was always going to be in the future. And for further advice, Kylian can turn to half-brother, Jirès Kembo Ekoko, the former Rennes striker, now playing in the UAE with Al Nasr.

At Clairefontaine, they dubbed Mbappe 'little Robinho' and for the coaching staff, there's no doubting Mbappe's raw potential.

"He's an eccentric striker, able to beat players and set fire in the last forty metres," says coach Jean-Claude Lafargue.

"There's an explosivity and fluidity in his game. It is very beautiful to see. He is one of those players who can be differentiated from others by his gestures, his ease.

"He's a beautiful passer, which is with both feet, and can make passes that others do not always see."

France U17 coach Jean-Claude Giuntini adds: "Kylian has great technique and control. He is very good in one-on-one situations. It's still to be decided where his best position is."

Mbappe's best role isn't the only decision that needs to be nailed down, with his ASM deal now having less than six months to run.

ASM vice president Vadim Vasilyev hopes to sit down with the Mbappe family next week to settle Kylian's future. There's hope of an offer of a mooted €1 million signing-on bonus, along with Jardim's backing, will convince Mbappe to commit his immediate future to ASM.

For the player, himself, after the days with Chelsea and Real, he's sure to take it all in his stride.

"I want to win the Ballon d'Or," Mbappe declared upon signing his Nike contract.

"Better to shoot for the moon; if you fail, you fall on a cloud. I'll try to make sure you do not forget my name..."