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Sports
Emmanuel Petit says Kylian Mbappe could join Arsenal if Real Madrid president Florentino Perez bows to fan pressure.
Seventy million signatures demanding Kylian Mbappe's departure from Real Madrid have created a potential transfer opening for Arsenal, according to former Gunners midfielder Emmanuel Petit. The French World Cup winner's dream move to the Bernabeu has soured amid internal chaos, with Petit suggesting Mikel Arteta's side represents the perfect escape route for the unsettled forward.
The former Arsenal and France star believes the north London club would be a tailor-made destination should Mbappe's stint in Spain end prematurely. Speaking to BOYLE Sports, Petit outlined how the 26-year-old would fit into the current tactical set-up: "Arsenal would love Kylian Mbappe and he'd be perfect on their left wing."
The talk of an exit stems from a toxic atmosphere surrounding the Spanish giants. Relationships within the squad have reportedly reached breaking point, highlighted by a violent training ground clash between Federico Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni that left the Uruguayan hospitalised. While teammates clash behind closed doors, Mbappe is fighting his own public battle with the Madridista faithful.
Even with prolific individual output, fans have scrutinised his overall commitment. That frustration boiled over into outrage when the forward was spotted on holiday during a period of injury recovery. The optics sparked a massive digital protest, with an online petition demanding his departure reaching 70 million signatures.
Petit suggests the only way a transfer materialises is if club president Florentino Perez decides to cut his losses. "The only way he leaves is if Florentino Perez cracks under the pressure," Petit added. "Millions of fans have signed to say they want him to leave the club. That could be the end for Mbappe because Florentino Perez is a political guy."
The Frenchman acknowledged that Mbappe's ego might keep him in Madrid. "The only reason I think Mbappe will stay at Real Madrid is because if he leaves without winning a trophy it would make his move a failure. Mbappe has a huge ego so he will probably want to stay and to prove the opposite. I don't see him leaving Madrid, probably the biggest club in the world, unless the decision is made for him."
Arsenal are currently preparing for a Champions League final against PSG. A victory in Europe's elite competition could be the catalyst for the most ambitious transfer in the club's history, elevating their status to a level where they could realistically compete for a player of Mbappe's stature.
"If Arsenal win the Champions League for the first time then it would change the course of their history and send a strong message in the transfer market," Petit said. "Players would of course want to play for the Champions League winners and hope they can go and win it again, it would help them attract Kylian Mbappe if he does leave Real Madrid."
For now, Mbappe remains in Madrid, potentially returning for El Clasico, but the door for a Premier League switch appears to be creaking open.
