Mbappe: 'I prefer Milan but Inter deserve respect, Lautaro is a great player'
Quick summary
Kylian Mbappe has stated he prefers AC Milan over Inter but acknowledged Inter deserve respect and praised Lautaro Martinez as a great player.
Full article
Attributed to original sourceReal Madrid star Kylian Mbappe has maintained his stance that he prefers Milan to Inter, but says that the Nerazzurri are a side that deserve a lot of respect ahead of their visit to the Bernabeu in the Champions League on Tuesday night.
What Mbappe said about Milan ahead of Real Madrid-Inter Mbappe has often spoken about his admiration for Inter’s rivals Milan. In a 2024 interview, the France international claimed that if he were to move to Italy, it would only be to sign for the Rossoneri. He has also previously claimed that he watches all of Milan’s Serie A matches .
MADRID, SPAIN – OCTOBER 22: Kylian Mbappe of Real Madrid looks on during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD3 match between Real Madrid C.F. and Juventus at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on October 22, 2025 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images) This is a stance that Mbappe maintained when interviewed by Sky ahead of Real Madrid’s Champions League clash against Inter on Tuesday night.
“I definitely prefer Milan, but Inter is an opponent that deserves a lot of respect. It’s a quality team,” Mbappe said.
Mbappe went on to discuss his close personal relationship with Nerazzurri striker Marcus Thuram and the respect that he has for captain Lautaro Martinez.
MILAN, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 05: Lautaro Martinez of Internazionale celebrates scoring his team’s third goal during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and SSC Napoli at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on September 05, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Claudio Villa/Getty Images) “When I saw the draw, my only thought was about Marcus Thuram. We’ve been friends for many years, I haven’t thought too much about Inter. It’s a big match for everyone and there are no friends on the pitch.
“Lautaro Martinez is a great player, but I hope he doesn’t show it tomorrow. It’s nice to play against the strikers who can make the difference.”
Click here to read the full quotes from Mbappe’s pre-match press conference.
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What happened
Kylian Mbappe, currently at Real Madrid, shared his views on Italian football's two Milan clubs, expressing a personal preference for AC Milan while emphasizing that Inter also deserve respect. He specifically praised Inter captain Lautaro Martinez, calling him a great player. The comments come amid ongoing speculation about Mbappe's long-term future and the possibility of a move to Serie A. While no transfer is imminent, the remarks will fuel debate among fans of both Milan clubs about a potential future arrival at the San Siro.
Chance analysis
Mbappe openly naming a preference between the two Milanese giants is the kind of off-the-cuff remark that travels fast in football circles. Praising Lautaro Martinez while tipping Milan signals respect for Serie A's quality without committing to anything concrete, but it will inevitably reignite 'will he, won't he' speculation in Italy. For now, the comments are personality-driven rather than transfer-driven, but they keep the door open for future market moves involving Europe's most marketable forward.
No immediate sporting impact; the comments may marginally boost Milan's profile in any future Mbappe transfer discussions but do not affect current team availability or performance.