Arsenal icon Thierry Henry has expressed his support for Kylian Mbappe, emphasizing the exceptional talent of “the most underrated player in existence.” Henry, renowned for his goal-scoring prowess with both club and country, parallels Mbappe, who is anticipated to transfer from Paris Saint-Germain to Real Madrid at the season’s conclusion.
“There aren’t many. Grizou is one of them.”
Before Mbappé’s anticipated debut in Madrid, he will have played for France in Euro 2024. Henry, who now serves as the France Under-21 coach and will manage the Olympic team, also hopes to convince him to participate in the Olympic Games in Paris, the nation’s capital.
The Olympic team allows for the inclusion of three senior players. It has been reported by Le Parisien that Henry wishes to enlist Mbappé, along with Antoine Griezmann and Olivier Giroud. In a recent interview with the same outlet, Henry lavished praise on an unsung French hero.
“We must not forget Griezmann, who reminds us that hard work is a talent,” the 46-year-old said.
“Griezmann is by far the most underrated player in existence. We often talk about Kylian, so much so that I am even in favour of abusing him. But Griezmann… look at his passes and his goals.
“Tell me who in history could play all four offensive positions like him? There aren’t many. Grizou is one of them.”
Griezmann to put the “pressure” on
Griezmann opened the door to him playing at the Olympics this month, insisting it would be a “dream” and claiming he would “put extraordinary pressure” on club side Atletico Madrid to make that dream a reality.
“I haven’t talked about it with the coach but it would be a dream for me,” he said to the media.
“If I’m called up, I’ll put extraordinary pressure on them to let me do it. It’s a dream, it’s a goal, it’s in France, it’s representing France. The Olympics. Everyone watches them.”
Henry knows he will have a big battle on his hands to persuade club sides to release their players, and is particularly pessimistic over his chances of persuading Real Madrid to release Mbappe and his teammates.
“I haven’t spoken to Kylian about it yet,” Henry added.
“But, what do you want me to say to him and what do you want Kylian to say to me? Is he going to fight with his club? Be careful, here we are speculating without knowing if his destiny will be his.
“The only thing we know about Kylian is that he is leaving. It doesn’t matter where he goes. But if he goes to Real Madrid, we already know that they will not let their players go.
“I wouldn’t stop there. We are talking about Kylian, but there are also Camavinga, Tchouaméni and Mendy. I will keep trying until the end, because I want the best team.
“But we return to the same debate: What can be done apart from being polite, asking and asking again and again?
“It’s like when, at Christmas, you have asked your parents for the same gift ten times, without result, and you ask for it again for the eleventh time… You have to ask for it. Who stops at the first refusal?”