Mbappe has a long-standing admiration for Milan, having claimed in a 2024 interview that if he were to move to Italy, it would only be to sign for the Rossoneri. He has also previously stated that he watches all of Milan's Serie A matches. The France international reiterated this stance when interviewed by Sky ahead of the match, saying: "I definitely prefer Milan, but Inter is an opponent that deserves a lot of respect. It's a quality team."
Mbappe also spoke about his close personal relationship with Inter striker Marcus Thuram, with whom he has been friends for many years. He expressed respect for Inter captain Lautaro Martinez, describing him as a "great player." However, Mbappe made it clear that he hopes Martinez will not have a significant impact on the match.