Thierry Henry has explained why he is keen for Kylian Mbappe to remain at Paris-Saint Germain amid transfer links to Real Madrid and Arsenal.
Mbappe would ‘willingly join’ the Gunners at the end of the season because he it would allow him to follow in the footsteps of his hero Henry, who is one of the biggest legends in Arsenal history.
Arsenal have been exploring a deal for the 25-year-old – considered as one of the best strikers on the planet – who helped France win the World Cup in 2018.
But Arsenal are reluctant to break their wage structure to recruit Mbappe and have been urged to avoid a move by some pundits.
Mbappe is out of contract in the summer and Real Madrid are still seen as the favourites to land his signature but they have been unable to reach an agreement thus far.
PSG have an offer on the table for Mbappe too should he wish to remain in Paris and that would be the most ideal situation for Henry ahead of the Olympics.
France are hosting the 2024 Games this summer and Henry will take charge of the nation’s football team as they look to secure a gold medal.
‘Where he is going to go, no-one knows, everyone thinks it is going to be one place,’ Henry told CBS about Mbappe.
Fellow pundit Jamie Carragher asked: ‘Would that be a problem for you? You’re a coach at the Olympics in Paris, I am sure the whole of France wants him there, it looks like he is going to move on.
‘Is that something now… I mean I’m sure you have some sort of contact with Mbappe, but I mean, have you spoken to him about the options going forward?’
Henry replied: ‘I didn’t speak to him yet directly about the Olympic situation. I have been calling players, as you know, but I will keep that to myself obviously.
‘But Mbappe went on TV the other day and said he would like to play them. But it will depend on the team [he picks this summer].
‘I need to explain to people. The Olympic Games are not a FIFA date. So teams can say no about releasing players. So it’s not a matter if he wants to play [the Olympics], it’s if he will get the approval of his team to come.’
Carragher added: ‘Let’s say he moves to Madrid. Would you have to wait until he signed? How difficult would that be for you?’
Henry then said: ‘It is tough. Having players who play for French teams, the Olympics is in France, I would like to think they will release the players.
‘The problems are with players who play for teams abroad. They do not have to send them. That’s going to be tricky.
‘My issue is, if you agree that a player is going to come, but then he moves, like a team can say, ‘You can have him’ – knowing that they will sell him.
‘Now I need to find and beg another team to release the player. I am talking about teams abroad.
‘It is a tough one. But to talk about Mbappe… he says he wants to play the Olympics. That is music to my ears.’