Giorgio Chiellini remembers the first time he saw Kylian Mbappe and asked Juventus sporting director Fabio Paratici ‘which planet he was from’.
In the latest excerpt from his new autobiography, ‘Io, Giorgio’, Chiellini spoke of his admiration for the Paris Saint-Germain forward and French World Cup winner, who is considered the best Under-21 player in world football.
Giorgio Chiellini remembers the first time he saw Kylian Mbappe and asked Juventus sporting director Fabio Paratici ‘which planet he was from’.
In the latest excerpt from his new autobiography, ‘Io, Giorgio’, Chiellini spoke of his admiration for the Paris Saint-Germain forward and French World Cup winner, who is considered the best Under-21 player in world football.
“Who’s destined to be the next world star and collector of Ballon d’Ors when Cristiano and Messi stop playing? It’s the Frenchman Kylian Mbappe, a truly unique player!” wrote the defender.
“The first time I saw him on TV was in the 2016-17 Champions League, during Manchester City-Monaco. Impressive.
“At the end of the first half, I asked Fabio Paratici: ‘’Who is he? Which planet is he from?’
“Fabio replied: ‘Yes, I know him. We’ve known him for some time… An unstoppable striker, he was just 18 years old.
“We would face him in Europe that season, in the semi-finals. Now he’s 21 and already a world champion. Pace, technique, instinct… he’s not lacking in anything.
“He’s a player who makes an impression, a priceless masterpiece. I also think Mbappe’s better than Neymar, more consistent. The future is all his.”