Mbappe: I said no to City, but not to Pep

KYLIAN Mbappe met Pep Guardiola in the summer but only opted to move to PSG after ‘things happened’ at Monaco.

City were one of a number of clubs interested in signing the teenage striker after his breakthrough season, going toe-to-toe with Real Madrid and others in a bid to bring him to the Etihad.

Having completed a loan move to PSG on deadline day ahead of a £166m deal next summer, Mbappe has confirmed the Blues did indeed pursue him.

However, he indicated he would not have moved at all this summer ‘if Monaco did what was required’.

“When I finished the season in May, I was staying,” Mbappe told L’Equipe.

“There was nothing else in my head. When I met the coaches [like Guardiola], I said to them - and they can confirm it - my priority was Monaco.

“And if Monaco did what was required, I would stay. There was no question of going elsewhere. After that, things happened that changed my position.”

However, Guardiola left a clear impression on Mbappe. Despite opting against joining the Blues, he was impressed with the conversations he enjoyed and explained that the City boss did not bother trying to tell him about his own game.

“He’s a coach who lives and breathes football,” he said. “He has won everywhere and he transmits his passion, he really gives you a desire to play, to just think about the game, because he only talks about the game.

“He doesn’t talk at all about what happens around it.

“When I saw him, we talked tactical setups, the way in which he would use me. We talked more about that than my qualities, because I know myself better than anyone. Even Guardiola can’t tell me what I already know. I didn’t say ‘no’ to Guardiola, I said ‘no’ to Manchester City.”