Arsene Wenger has admitted that the price tag on French starlet Kylian Mbappe this summer was too high for Arsenal.
The 18-year-old joined Paris Saint-Germain on loan with an obligation to buy in a year’s time from Monaco on deadline day, but had previously been a target of Wenger’s.
However, speaking to French channel Telefoot, the under-fire Gunners manager confirmed that the deal was too rich for them.
“€180m (£165m) is a little high for us,” said Wenger.
“For 90 per cent of players, their career depends on their choice of club. Kylian is part of the 10 per cent where any choice he makes will be a good one.”
Wenger, who also missed out on Mbappe’s former teammate Thomas Lemar despite a last ditch £92m offer, went on to compare the PSG forward to Brazilian legend Pele.
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“He [Mbappe] can be like Pele, there are no limits to his game,” he added.
“We can already see the difference in the calls he makes [to receive the ball]. He scores but he also creates - only the very best players can do this.”
