Kylian Mbappe says he is now following Arsenal “from afar” now that his former boss Unai Emery is the new manager of the club.
Emery left Paris Saint-Germain – where Mbappe currently plays – in the summer before succeeding Arsene Wenger at the Emirates Stadium.
PSG signed Mbappe for £166million in 2017 in a world record deal for a teenager after the France international had held talks with Wenger about a potential move to Arsenal.
However, the move didn’t materialise and the PSG striker has revealed more about his conversations with Wenger.
“He is a real French football monument who has left Arsenal. I have not seen many people in this world being viewed in such a unanimous way,” Mbappe told France Football.
“When the entirety of Europe gets on its knees in front of him to celebrate him, that certainly means something.
“A little while ago, before I signed for PSG, we were in contact in 2017. I chose a different direction but he wasn’t annoyed at me. He was a gentleman about it and wished me good luck.”
Emery is now in charge of the Gunners, leading them on a 19-match unbeaten run and Mbappe admits he still looks out for his former manager’s results.
“I do not forget that he helped me adapt to this big team, which was not easy,” admitted Mbappe.
“I have a lot of respect for this man even if he did it not succeed in Paris. He won titles before and I hope he wins them again after. I sent him a congratulatory message when he signed for Arsenal, and now, I am following from afar.”