Mbappe: ‘I prefer Milan but Inter deserve respect, Lautaro is a great player’ | OneFootball

Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappe has maintained his stance that he prefers Milan to Inter, but says that the Nerazzurri are a side that deserve a lot of respect ahead of their visit to the Bernabeu in the Champions League on Tuesday night.

What Mbappe said about Milan ahead of Real Madrid-Inter

Mbappe has often spoken about his admiration for Inter’s rivals Milan. In a 2024 interview, the France international claimed that if he were to move to Italy, it would only be to sign for the Rossoneri. He has also previously claimed that he watches all of Milan’s Serie A matches.

MADRID, SPAIN – OCTOBER 22: Kylian Mbappe of Real Madrid looks on during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD3 match between Real Madrid C.F. and Juventus at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on October 22, 2025 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

This is a stance that Mbappe maintained when interviewed by Sky ahead of Real Madrid’s Champions League clash against Inter on Tuesday night.

“I definitely prefer Milan, but Inter is an opponent that deserves a lot of respect. It’s a quality team,”  Mbappe said.

Mbappe went on to discuss his close personal relationship with Nerazzurri striker Marcus Thuram and the respect that he has for captain Lautaro Martinez.

MILAN, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 05: Lautaro Martinez of Internazionale celebrates scoring his team’s third goal during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and SSC Napoli at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on September 05, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Claudio Villa/Getty Images)

“When I saw the draw, my only thought was about Marcus Thuram. We’ve been friends for many years, I haven’t thought too much about Inter. It’s a big match for everyone and there are no friends on the pitch.

“Lautaro Martinez is a great player, but I hope he doesn’t show it tomorrow. It’s nice to play against the strikers who can make the difference.”

Click here to read the full quotes from Mbappe’s pre-match press conference.