'You have to be fair' - Kylian Mbappe sends message to Arsenal player after major announcement made

Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappe has insisted that Arsenal defender William Saliba should share the award for France Football's French Footballer of the Season.

The prestigious award sees players and other French football figures vote for who they feel deserves to be named footballer of the year for last season (2023/24). That campaign was Mbappe's last in Ligue 1 before agreeing to join Los Blancos on a free transfer.

Mbappe ensured he would end his time in the French capital memorably as his 52 goals saw him win Ligue 1, Coupe de France and led PSG to a Champions League semi-final. He finished with 56 points, five more than Arsenal's Saliba who excelled in the Premier League but was unable to pick up any major honours.

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Despite this Mbappe paid tribute to Saliba. He told L'Equipe: "You have to be fair, William Saliba would also have deserved to win this trophy."

The French international teammates hold a special bond having grown up together in Paris before taking their own paths in professional football. Mbappe has already made his feelings clear on Saliba, explaining in the summer: "This season, he has become a very important player for Arsenal and is among the best centre-backs in the Premier League.

"He is starting to get minutes with us [French national team]. It’s now up to him to find his place.

"For me, he has all the qualities to, in time, be a starter with Les Bleus." Saliba has missed just one Premier League match this season due to suspension while Mbappe has bagged 12 goals in 22 appearances for Madrid since his summer move.