David Trezeguet has warned Kylian Mbappe against following the example of Manchester United's Anthony Martial and advised him to stay at Monaco for another season to avoid struggling at a big club.
Martial left Monaco for United in September 2015 for an initial £36 million, the biggest transfer fee ever paid for a teenager. Though highly rated, Martial has failed to fully establish himself at Old Trafford.
Mbappe has been linked to a host of major clubs, notably in the Premier League, including United, who have reportedly already had a substantial bid rejected for the teenage striker.
Trezeguet, a former Monaco striker, joined the list of voices advising the 18-year-old to reject overtures from elsewhere and remain at the Stade Louis II for at least another season.
"I think he has everything to become a striker with an exceptional future. He needs to be given time. He enjoys it, he's happy, he's proud. At his age, that's something unique," Trezeguet, who left Monaco for Juventus in 2000 and developed into one of the game's most feared forwards, said.
"People are talking a lot about his future. Personally, I hope he'll stay at Monaco to continue showing his qualities, but above all establish himself as a player. We mustn't forget he's just 18 years old. He has time to get to know the top level even if he's at a club of a very high level. Everyone wants to play for Real, Barca, Juve with time.
"I think he has to still establish himself. In Monaco, there was the recent case of Martial, who left to go to Manchester United and it was a lot more difficult. When you leave France for a much better league, you have problems. That's a very clear example. Mbappe, we all know he has qualities, but perhaps doing another year could be good for him, for Monaco and the France team."
British media have reported that clubs, such as Manchester City, are ready to break the world record transfer fee set by United in buying Paul Pogba from Juve last summer for €105m as they bid to secure Mbappe's services this summer.
However, when asked by RMC whether he would be ready to let his club's teenage prodigy leave for €100m, Monaco vice-president Vadim Vasilyev said Mbappe is not for sale.
"He doesn't have a price, unless he wants to leave, then we'll sit down and talk, otherwise he doesn't have a price at which he can leave," Vasilyev, who hopes to extend the youngster's contract beyond its current expiry in 2019, said.
"We'd like him to stay at least another season, continue his great progress, help us to dream bigger and get results."
Vasilyev added: "Our wish is to extend Mbappe's contract, that's for certain. After that, we need to sit down, see what the player wants."