Vincent Kompany has placed Kylian Mbappe among the best players of the modern era, but believes he will only reach his very best level if he joins Manchester City.
The Paris Saint-Germain attacker put in a superb performance in France's World Cup opener on Tuesday, scoring one goal and setting up another as Les Bleus brushed Australia aside 4-1. On several occasions the 23-year-old pulled off breathtaking pieces of skill and athleticism, showcasing his ability to wow spectators like very few in the game can.
Former City captain Kompany provided punditry for the match on BBC Sport, and speaking after the match he was adamant that Mbappe is one of the greats.
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"There are few players that give you that feeling: Ronaldinho, Messi, Ronaldo. You have no solutions. If he can keep doing what he does, it's very difficult to limit a player like this. With France, they have a big player who can do that."
Mbappe's future at PSG is by no means certain. Early in the summer he signed a new deal with the club despite it looking likely he would run down his contract and join Real Madrid. However, the opening months of this season have seen numerous reports emerge suggesting he is unhappy and wants to leave again.
When asked about Mbappe's future, Kompany was straight to the point about where he thinks the Frenchman would thrive.
"I think that is what we expect him to do [leave]. [But] he wants to win the Champions League with PSG, it will mean a lot to him.
"Put the best player with the best coach in the best league in the world and I let you guess who that is! Manchester City, that's when you'll see the best version of him."
It seems unlikely that City would be able to accommodate both Erling Haaland and Mbappe, but the thought of such a strike partnership is undeniably a mouth-watering one.
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