Former scout reveals why Chelsea rejected Real Madrid ace Kylian Mbappe as a teenager – ‘Did not try hard’ | OneFootball

Kylian Mbappe is on fire at Real Madrid, and his numbers this season in front of goal have been nothing short of incredible.

Yet, there does not appear to be much surprise over the same, given how the Frenchman has always been an overachiever and a standout forward across the teams he has played for over the years.

The player is best known for his successes, primarily at PSG and now at Real Madrid, but his journey to the top was anything but easy.

Mbappe’s youth story

Earlier today, in an interview with Goal (h/t Defensa Central) former Chelsea scout Serge Daniel Boga revealed information on the Real Madrid striker’s difficult beginnings and the story of how Chelsea rejected him early in his playing days.

Speaking on how he arranged an audition for Mbappe in London, he said,

Mbappe is on fire for Real Madrid. (Photo by Aitor Alcalde/Getty Images)

“I brought him with his family and he was as skilled as he is now. After a week with us, we told him that we wanted him to come back for a new test.”

“I remember what his mother said: ‘My son is not going to come back, if you want him, sign him now because in five years it will cost you 50 million’,” he added on the confidence Mbappe’s mother, Fayza Lamari, had in her son.

At the time, Mbappe was just 13 years of age but Chelsea rejected him despite seeing his talent. Speaking on the same, Boga said,

“Chelsea was the first team to put it to the test, even before Real Madrid.”

“I had a friend who worked for Nike and, when he was in France, I met with him and he asked me if I had heard of a young man named Mbappé who played for Bondy, a small team from Paris,” he added.

Finally, he revealed the reason why Chelsea rejected the player, saying,

“He was very skilled, but in England, they want to see players who work hard. At that time he was not like that. Defensively, he hadn’t reached that point.”

“When he had the ball he was incredible, but without the ball, he didn’t try too hard. That’s why they wanted another test,” he concluded.