As featured on NewsNow: Football news

Ex-Arsenal chief Mislintat: Dortmund so close to signing Mbappe in Bosman deal

Arsenal's former head of recruitment Sven Mislintat says Borussia Dortmund also signed PSG star Kylian Mbappe on a free transfer.

The 22-year-old started his career at Monaco, making his first-team debut at the age of just 16, and even at that young age there were a number of elite clubs around Europe who were eyeing him up.

And speaking in an interview with Kicker, Mislintat, who spent a year at Arsenal, recalled just how close Dortmund got to signing the player.

"It was a real shame that we couldn't get Kylian in," he said. "Kylian Mbappe was [available] free of charge at a certain point and there were many suitors. But we had no chance of winning that [race].

"If you had been able to steal Mbappe from Monaco for free at the time, it would of course have been a mega deal."

Mbappe ended up joining PSG in 2017 in what is believed to be the second most expensive transfer of all time, with the deal potentially reaching an eye-watering £168m.

Video of the day:

About the author

Paul Vegas

×

Subscribe and go ad-free

For only $10 a year

  1. Go Ad-Free
  2. Faster site experience
  3. Support great writing
  4. Subscribe now
Launch Offer: 2 months free
×

Subscribe and go ad-free

For only $10 a year

Subscribe now
Launch Offer: 2 months free