The Argentina legend has revealed he told Blancos president Florentino Perez to sign the France wonder-kid before he moved to PSG
Real Madrid passed up the opportunity to sign Kylian Mbappe ahead of PSG because of Cristiano Ronaldo’s presence at the club, Diego Maradona claims.
Mbappe, 18, helped fire Monaco to the Ligue 1 title last season and was linked with several clubs including Real, PSG, Barcelona and Manchester City as a result.
Goal revealed in June that Real held talks with Monaco to sign Mbappe , 18, before the teen sensation secured a move to PSG on an initial loan with the obligation to make the move permanent for £166 million.
Argentina legend Maradona has since revealed that he personally told Real president Florentino Perez to sign Mbappe, who he has hailed as the “revelation of football”.
However, Perez suggested Ronaldo’s presence at the Santiago Bernabeu was one of the main reasons why Real did not land Mbappe, according to Maradona.
He told AS : “For me, Mbappe is the revelation of football. I think he can surpass many.
“Why did they not sign him? I told Florentino to sign Mbappe. I told him when we saw each other at Fifa.”
And when asked about Perez’s response, Maradona replied: “He told me…’but you know I have Cristiano’.”
Mbappe has scored 10 goals in all competitions for PSG so far this season with Unai Emery’s men top of Ligue 1 and through to the Champions League last 16.
The French giants take on Ronaldo’s Real in the first knockout round of Europe’s premier club competition.
SOURCE: Goal.com
