Vágner Love Reflects on Partnership with Kylian Mbappé During Monaco Spell

Vágner Love, the recently retired Brazilian forward, has shared insights into his brief but memorable spell at AS Monaco, where he played alongside a young Kylian Mbappé. Reflecting on their partnership, Vágner Love humorously remarked, "I did not play with Mbappé... he played with me," emphasizing the impact Mbappé had even early in his career.

During his seven-month tenure at Monaco, Vágner Love joined a squad competing in Ligue 1, France's top football division. At the time, Mbappé was emerging as a promising talent, and the two formed the club's attacking duo in several matches. Vágner Love, known for his previous spells at clubs such as CSKA Moscow, Corinthians, and Flamengo, described Mbappé as "very young, very calm, always serene," and noted his respectful attitude towards teammates.

This period was significant for both players and the club, as Monaco sought to challenge established teams in the league. Vágner Love recalled the nickname given to Mbappé by the Brazilian contingent at the club: "Papa-Léguas," a reference to the Road Runner cartoon character, highlighting Mbappé's remarkable speed on the pitch. This attribute was already a defining feature of Mbappé's playing style.

Among the six games in which they appeared together, Vágner Love highlighted a particularly memorable victory against Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) at the Parc des Princes. Monaco had struggled to win at that venue for many years, but with Vágner Love and Mbappé leading the attack, they secured a rare triumph. Vágner Love scored the opening goal, while Fabinho added a second with a Panenka-style penalty, marking a notable achievement for the team.

Vágner Love's time at Monaco came to an end following the return of Radamel Falcao from his loan spell at Chelsea. The then-coach Leonardo Jardim informed Vágner Love that Falcao would be reinstated as the starting striker. Respecting the decision, Vágner Love chose to terminate his contract to pursue opportunities elsewhere.

Looking ahead, Monaco continued to develop their squad around emerging talents like Mbappé, while Vágner Love moved on from the club. The reflections on this period provide valuable context to Mbappé's early career progression and Monaco's competitive ambitions during that season.