Florent Malouda says he has been “campaigning” for Paris Saint-Germain superstar Kylian Mbappe to join Chelsea for a “very long time”.
Malouda scored 45 goals in 228 appearances for the Blues between 2007 and 2013, winning the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League in his time at Stamford Bridge and earning 80 caps for France.
And now Malouda claims he’s spent some of his retirement attempting to convince Mbappe – who is currently one of the best players in the world – to join his former club Chelsea.
There have been reports that Mbappe has feuded with team-mates in the dressing room this season with PSG crashing out the Champions League in the round of 16.
One of the main reasons Mbappe was brought to the club was to win the Champions League and there have been rumours that his future is uncertain.
However, in an interview earlier this week, Mbappe pledged his immediate future to the club with the France international determined to bring Champions League glory to PSG next term.
“The next step? Winning the Champions League,” Mbappe told France 3 (via Goal). “I have already made a final, semi-final, quarter-final, round of 16 … I have done everything but win. That’s all I need. Where [I want to do it]? In Paris. I’m a Parisian and under contract. So it’s PSG.”
When asked if he ever thought Mbappe would play in the Premier League, Malouda said: “I’ve been campaigning for him to join Chelsea for a very long time! So far, I’ve failed (laughs) but I will keep trying.”
Malouda added: “Hopefully we will see him in the Premier League because that is the most competitive league in the world – it would be great to see him here. There are not that many teams that can give him what he wants and there are not that many teams that can build their team around him. He is a leader, he’s just been appointed the captain of the French national team and he will be looking for a leadership role at his next club, which can create problems.”
On whether Chelsea owner Todd Boehly should make a move for him in the summer, Malouda continued: “I think Boehly and everyone in football already knows about Kylian! Any owner would have Mbappe on his list, but it’s really about the right connection on a human level.
“We can talk about the millions he would cost in transfer fees or wages, but it’s always the human relationship that has the biggest impact on the decision of any player.”
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