Kylian Mbappe’s friend and former team-mate Nabil Dirar believes that it is a formality that the French forward will one day join his boyhood club AC Milan, and not too late in his career either.
Dirar was one of the key players in that great Monaco side along with Mbappé, Radamel Falcao and Bernardo Silva who won Ligue 1 and reached the semi-final of the Champions League in 2017, losing to Juventus in the end.
Mbappè meanwhile caused another stir last night when he once again professed his love for Milan. He had gone on record and admitted that he grew up as a Milan fan, but his recent comments sent fans’ imaginations into a frenzy regarding the potential of a future move one day down the line.
Dirar spoke to the microphones of gianlucadimarzio.com about a failed transfer to Lazio, that tie against Juve in 2017, his plans for the future and also those of his close friend Mbappè.
“I confirm that Kylian always had lots of Milan socks and shirts. I think that after Real Madrid he will go to Milan and when he does he won’t be too old. If he continues to send signs of love to Milan it’s obvious that one day he will go. Then Milan is a beautiful city where you can eat well!” he said.
“I had no doubts that he would have a great career. I remember how strong he was in his first training sessions at la Turbie [the Monaco training complex]. I also remember that after two, three sessions Andrea Raggi jokingly told him to attack the other side because he was starting to get bored… to avoid the risk that he might lose control and split him in two since he was doing well.
“You could immediately see that he was a top player. At the time he was still very young and I remember that when his mother accompanied him to training he always asked us to take care of Kylian.
“Real Madrid are a great club and whoever decides to go there does so to wear that shirt and not for the money. Those who play for the money go to Saudi Arabia or MLS, not to Real Madrid. With Ancelotti will be able to make the leap in quality and training with players like this will help him.
“He will have to be 100% in training too but the competition will make him grow. Then it’s up to us to be honest in Paris, apart from the league he would never have won anything.”
Dirar grew up with the legend of Kakà and he went on to speak about the recent fortunes of the club compared to the era that he watched as a child.
“The truth must be told: Milan are a great club despite the decline of recent years. They alternate ups and downs, maybe they win 4-5 games in a row before losing 3-4. But I’m sure that Milan will return.
“I’m a big Milan fan, I loved Kakà who was a great champion. Bakayoko who I played with at Monaco always told me that Milan it’s crazy stuff… people’s passion for football is incredible and you get treated like a star there.”