Nicolas Anelka on Paving the Way for Players Like Kylian Mbappé

KERKRADE, NETHERLANDS - FEBRUARY 17: Former player but current employee of Roda JC, Nicolas Anelka of France looks on from the stands during the Dutch Eredivisie match between Roda JC and Go Ahead Eagles held at Parkstad Limburg Stadion on February 17, 2017 in Kerkrade, Netherlands. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)

One of the newest football documentaries to hit Netflix entitled Anelka: Misunderstood will be on the career of Nicolas Anelka. The 41-year-old reflects on his playing days, and the former Paris Saint-Germain forward spoke with Le Parisien, where he talked about a current capital club player. 

During his interview with the French media outlet, Anelka talked about Kylian Mbappé and how he paved the way for talented players like him by removing the obstacles that they don’t face nowadays. 

The France international states that he was one of the first French players to head abroad and with a hefty price tag to live up to when he made the transfer to Real Madrid for €35 million, he was one of the first to have to live up to the hype. 

“Mbappé is as strong technically as mentally. But I went before him to remove the obstacles. I was one of the first to have gone abroad or to have signed a big transfer,” Anelka said. “I was also the first to work with my family, with my brothers, at a time when it was frowned upon in the community. Today, it is almost natural. I was a pioneer, and the A pioneer, he takes blows. But I opened the way. A Mbappé, with all his strength, also benefits from my experience of 20 years ago. And he is quite right.”

Although Mbappé didn’t leave France, the 21-year-old did come home, but with Les Parisiens paying a €180 million transfer fee, the young forward had to prove his worth. 

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Tags Kylian Mbappé Nicolas Anelka
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