Ryan Giggs has disclosed that Manchester United turned down an opportunity to sign Kylian Mbappe in 2015 after being underwhelmed by a scouting report.

While coaching at Old Trafford under Louis van Gaal, Giggs encountered a French fan named Lionel who urged him to consider the then Monaco player. Giggs recounted,

I was coaching United... I'm in the south of France... I can feel someone following me... This guy is called Lionel... He just wanted to say hello... But I watch a lot of youth football in France, and you have to look at this player. He's called Kylian Mbappé.

Following this tip, Giggs and fellow coach Albert Stuivenberg attended youth games to observe Mbappe, noting his exceptional talent. They subsequently informed the scouting team, who sent scouts to watch him play against Paris Saint-Germain. Unfortunately, the scouts reported uncertainty regarding his potential, leading United to drop the pursuit.

Shortly after, Mbappe made his senior debut with Monaco, contributing to their Ligue 1 title win in 2017 before transferring to Paris Saint-Germain for a record fee. He later achieved further acclaim by helping France secure the World Cup title and eventually moved to Real Madrid in 2024.