Footy Naija
  • Home
  • News
  • EPL
  • La Liga
  • Ligue 1
  • Serie A
  • Esport
No Result
View All Result
Thursday, April 16, 2026
Footy Naija
  • Home
  • News
  • EPL
  • La Liga
  • Ligue 1
  • Serie A
  • Esport
No Result
View All Result
Footy Naija
ADVERTISEMENT

“He was very thin and small” – Why Real Madrid didn’t sign Kylian Mbappé at 13 despite Zidane’s recommendation

Imhons by Imhons
June 12, 2024
in News
A A
“He was very thin and small” – Why Real Madrid didn’t sign Kylian Mbappé at 13 despite Zidane’s recommendation
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Related Post

Werder Bremen get timely lift as Super Eagles star eyes return from knee surgery

Boniface boost for Bremen? Thioune delivers key fitness update before Hamburg clash

April 16, 2026
Former Super Eagles skipper slams ‘incompetent’ Barcelona after UCL elimination

Former Super Eagles skipper slams ‘incompetent’ Barcelona after UCL elimination

April 16, 2026
“It feels good” – Super Eagles striker Kelechi Iheanacho reacts after match-winner vs Dundee

“Proper striker” – Nigeria’s Kelechi Iheanacho earns plaudits from former Celtic frontman

April 16, 2026
‘He must be eating lions’ – Osimhen hailed as a genetic phenomenon after Galatasaray stun Liverpool

Osimhen compared to Mbappe and Kane as Buruk eyes historic Galatasaray title

April 16, 2026
Former Real Madrid youth coach Ruben de la Red has revealed why the club did not sign Kylian Mbappé when he was 13 years old, Soccernet.football reports.

Now regarded as one of the best players in the world, Mbappé recently joined Real Madrid on a free transfer after leaving Paris Saint-Germain. The France international reportedly received a large signing-on fee and is now the highest-paid player at the Spanish club.

In an interview with Spanish sports newspaper AS, de la Red discussed Mbappé’s trial at Real Madrid: “Everyone always wants to know that from me. It was like with every other boy who trained with us. Every now and then you had players who you now say ‘Look what he’s become’. But he must have worked hard for that afterwards.”

De la Red explained further: “Zidane recommended him because he knew him. Mbappé already had these little things: speed and dribbling.

“Physically, he was very thin and small. He had not yet made that leap in development – and in the end, it is difficult to predict whether you will make it as a professional when you are only 12 or 13. Many players like Mbappé have already fallen by the wayside.”

When asked if he expected Mbappé to succeed, de la Red said: “He (Mbappé) himself did not expect it – and neither did anyone else. It has been shown time and again that only very few make it as a professional. And even more so to Mbappé’s level. This is a marathon for every young player, where they have been lucky and worked hard.”

Currently, Mbappé is preparing with France for the European Championship in Germany. The French team will face Austria, the Netherlands, and Poland in the group stage.

The World Cup winner cupped an injury last night that could keep him out of France’s opening game at the Euros during their goalless draw against Canada in a friendly.
Former Real Madrid youth coach Ruben de la Red has revealed why the club did not sign Kylian Mbappé when he was 13 years old, Soccernet.football reports.

Now regarded as one of the best players in the world, Mbappé recently joined Real Madrid on a free transfer after leaving Paris Saint-Germain. The France international reportedly received a large signing-on fee and is now the highest-paid player at the Spanish club.

In an interview with Spanish sports newspaper AS, de la Red discussed Mbappé’s trial at Real Madrid: “Everyone always wants to know that from me. It was like with every other boy who trained with us. Every now and then you had players who you now say ‘Look what he’s become’. But he must have worked hard for that afterwards.”

De la Red explained further: “Zidane recommended him because he knew him. Mbappé already had these little things: speed and dribbling.

“Physically, he was very thin and small. He had not yet made that leap in development – and in the end, it is difficult to predict whether you will make it as a professional when you are only 12 or 13. Many players like Mbappé have already fallen by the wayside.”

When asked if he expected Mbappé to succeed, de la Red said: “He (Mbappé) himself did not expect it – and neither did anyone else. It has been shown time and again that only very few make it as a professional. And even more so to Mbappé’s level. This is a marathon for every young player, where they have been lucky and worked hard.”

Currently, Mbappé is preparing with France for the European Championship in Germany. The French team will face Austria, the Netherlands, and Poland in the group stage.

The World Cup winner cupped an injury last night that could keep him out of France’s opening game at the Euros during their goalless draw against Canada in a friendly.
Source: AS
Tags: Euro 2024Kylian MbappeLa LigaPSGReal Madrid
Imhons

Imhons

Related Posts

Werder Bremen get timely lift as Super Eagles star eyes return from knee surgery
Africa

Boniface boost for Bremen? Thioune delivers key fitness update before Hamburg clash

by Imhons
April 16, 2026
Former Super Eagles skipper slams ‘incompetent’ Barcelona after UCL elimination
News

Former Super Eagles skipper slams ‘incompetent’ Barcelona after UCL elimination

by Olaoluwa Komolafe
April 16, 2026
“It feels good” – Super Eagles striker Kelechi Iheanacho reacts after match-winner vs Dundee
News

“Proper striker” – Nigeria’s Kelechi Iheanacho earns plaudits from former Celtic frontman

by Olaoluwa Komolafe
April 16, 2026
Next Post
Five key takeaways from the United States’ impressive 1-1 draw with Brazil pre-Copa America

Five key takeaways from the United States' impressive 1-1 draw with Brazil pre-Copa America

Chelsea join Arsenal and Manchester City in monitoring €75m rated Portugal international

Chelsea join Arsenal and Manchester City in monitoring €75m rated Portugal international

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
Super Eagles star Nwaiwu joins Yamal, Zaïre-Emery on world’s best U23 list

Super Eagles star Nwaiwu joins Yamal, Zaïre-Emery on world’s best U23 list

April 16, 2026
Osimhen: Napoli chief opens up on “big mistake” in Super Eagles striker’s transfer saga

Osimhen: Napoli chief opens up on “big mistake” in Super Eagles striker’s transfer saga

April 15, 2026
Ex-Super Eagles star reveals how he struggled to break into Real Madrid first team

Ex-Super Eagles star reveals how he struggled to break into Real Madrid first team

April 16, 2026
Ex-Super Eagles star reveals how Rohr ‘downgraded’ him at World Cup

Ex-Super Eagles star reveals how Rohr ‘downgraded’ him at World Cup

April 16, 2026
Roberto Baggio: Juventus & AC Milan great robbed at home during Italy’s loss to Spain at Euro 2024

Roberto Baggio: Juventus & AC Milan great robbed at home during Italy’s loss to Spain at Euro 2024

535
2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers: CAF reschedules Egypt vs. Burkina Faso match

2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers: CAF reschedules Egypt vs. Burkina Faso match

537
Al Nassr’s Cristiano Ronaldo set to shatter Saudi League goal record against champions Al Hilal

Al Nassr’s Cristiano Ronaldo set to shatter Saudi League goal record against champions Al Hilal

582
Portugal boss Roberto Martinez provides update on Cristiano Ronaldo’s international career after Euro exit

Portugal boss Roberto Martinez provides update on Cristiano Ronaldo’s international career after Euro exit

350
Werder Bremen get timely lift as Super Eagles star eyes return from knee surgery

Boniface boost for Bremen? Thioune delivers key fitness update before Hamburg clash

April 16, 2026
Former Super Eagles skipper slams ‘incompetent’ Barcelona after UCL elimination

Former Super Eagles skipper slams ‘incompetent’ Barcelona after UCL elimination

April 16, 2026
“It feels good” – Super Eagles striker Kelechi Iheanacho reacts after match-winner vs Dundee

“Proper striker” – Nigeria’s Kelechi Iheanacho earns plaudits from former Celtic frontman

April 16, 2026
‘He must be eating lions’ – Osimhen hailed as a genetic phenomenon after Galatasaray stun Liverpool

Osimhen compared to Mbappe and Kane as Buruk eyes historic Galatasaray title

April 16, 2026
Footy Naija

© 2025 Soccernet Media Limited.

  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact us

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • EPL
  • La Liga
  • Ligue 1
  • Serie A
  • Esport

© 2025 Soccernet Media Limited.