Kylian Mbappe says players join Real Madrid “at the peak of their careers” and that he is focusing on developing “step by step” at Monaco.
Mbappe, 18, has had a season to remember, scoring 12 goals in his first 23 Ligue 1 appearances, and in each of his first two Champions League starts as well as making his senior France debut in a World Cup qualifying win over Luxembourg last week.
Europe’s top clubs have been alerted by this and Real Madrid, Barcelona and Manchester United are among the teams reported to be monitoring his progress.
Speaking at the Stade de France after starting for Les Bleus in Tuesday’s 2-0 friendly defeat against Spain, Mbappe, who is under contract with Monaco until June 2019, said that he did not want to rush things.
“At the moment I am at Monaco,” he told reporters. “We go along step by step. Madrid is for players at the peak of their careers, and I am not there yet.
“I have been brought up, and have people around me, to help me keep my feet on the ground. What I want is to play football, score goals, win games and trophies. Every player has their career.”
Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane recently confirmed the club had tried to sign Mbappe as a 15-year-old before he moved to Monaco, while skipper Sergio Ramos said this week the youngster would be welcomed at the Bernabeu should the club’s hierarchy decide to bring him in.