Full Breakdown
Manchester United passed on Kylian Mbappé in 2015, says Ryan Giggs
9/10/2026, 12:20:45 AM
Core Event
Former Manchester United assistant manager Ryan Giggles revealed that the club scouted French forward Kylian Mbappé while he was a youth player at AS Monaco in 2015 and ultimately decided not to pursue a transfer. Giggs said the tip came from a French fan named Lionel, after which he and fellow assistant Albert Stuivenberg watched Mbappé in Monaco youth matches, found him “exceptional,” and passed the report to United’s scouting department.
Background & Context
In 2015 Mbappé was a 16-year-old prospect at Monaco, long before his breakout season with the club in 2016-17 and his 2018 World Cup triumph with France. After United declined to sign him, Mbappé joined Paris Saint-Germain on a season-long loan in 2017 and secured a permanent transfer the following year. He later became one of football’s most expensive signings and the 2022 World Cup Golden Boot winner.
Data & Statistics
- Transfer fee to PSG (permanent move): reported as around £170 million in one source and £162 million in another.
- World Cup achievements: hat-trick in the 2022 final; all-time leading scorer in World Cup history as of 2022.
Official Statements & Responses
Giggs recounted the entire episode on the “Rio Ferdinand Presents: The Debrief” podcast, describing his walk in the south of France, the chance encounter with Lionel, and the subsequent scouting trips. He noted that United’s scouting team travelled to Paris to watch Mbappé play against PSG but ultimately did not recommend a signing. No official comment from Manchester United has been released regarding the missed opportunity.
Verbatim Quotes
- “So, I’m in the south of France. I've been for a walk in the local village and I'm walking back to the hotel. And I can feel someone, you know, when you feel someone like following you. I get to the hotel and then all of a sudden I can feel someone coming up to me.” — Ryan Giggs
- “Then he came up to me and said: hello, I'm Lionel. I just wanted to say hi. I'm one of the biggest Manchester United fans, and I'm one of your biggest fans too. But I watch a lot of youth football matches in France, and there's a player you have to look at,” — Ryan Giggs
- “And we watched some of Monaco's youth matches and saw him and said: oh my goodness, what is this? You know, you can see players and they might be special, but he looked exceptional,” — Red Devils. Ryan
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the exact amount paid by Paris Saint-Germain for Mbappé’s permanent transfer: one article cites “around £170 million,” while another lists “£162 million,” described as the second-most-expensive signing in football history. No source provides a definitive figure from the clubs themselves.
What’s Next
The full interview with Ryan Giggs is available on the Rio Ferdinand Presents YouTube channel at 9:00 UK time on Wednesday 9 September. No further actions or statements from Manchester United have been announced.
