Lille sporting director, Luis Campos, has likened Nicolas Pepe to Cristiano Ronaldo and Kylian Mbappe, stating that the Arsenal winger is constantly trying to improve his game and make himself “more perfect”.
Pepe left Lille for the Gunners in a club-record €79m (£72m/$87m) fee, having scored 22 times in France’s top-flight last season.
However, the Ivorian is yet to make a big impression in England, having scored just once in the Premier League.
That has led to some pundits questioning whether the 24-year-old was worth the money that the Gunners paid for the versatile attacker.
But Campos has suggested that Pepe’s desire to constantly get better will stand him in good stead.
“In my opinion one of the characteristics of a top, top player is that they like football.
“I remember working with Cristiano Ronaldo and Kylian Mbappe: they know everything about football. Mbappe knew all the results of the second division in France.
“Nicolas Pepe is like that. He’s another example of the importance of a player liking football.
“After a game he watches the whole game again two times, to make himself more perfect,” Campos told Sky Sports.
Comments