At Real Madrid, the spotlight was on Kylian Mbappé. Despite the high expectations surrounding his arrival, the French forward has yet to deliver the performances that were anticipated, making him a target for criticism.
His recent match against Liverpool at Anfield had a negative impact, as it marked his first real test as a Real Madrid player. With Vinícius absent, Mbappé was the primary attacking option, playing in his favored position on the left wing. However, he failed to make an impact, missing a crucial penalty and struggling to make key decisions during the match. Despite this, the club’s leadership continues to support him, though concerns about his form are growing.
In France, some have used this moment to criticize Mbappé. The prominent newspaper “L’Équipe” spoke with someone close to the player, who attributed his struggles to Real Madrid’s style of play.
“Toni Kroos has not been replaced, Luka Modrić is no longer physically the same, Tchouaméni and Camavinga are not passers. As for Jude Bellingham, he doesn’t convince me, and he’s not Neymar either,” the source stated. “Mbappé needs teammates to help him execute his moves, like he had with Neymar and Verratti at PSG, or Griezmann with the French national team.”
However, this opinion is not shared by coach Carlo Ancelotti or club president Florentino Pérez. Both are concerned about the mindset expressed by the source close to Mbappé. According to Spanish newspaper “Defensa Central,” Pérez is upset by these comments and believes that Mbappé must be able to adapt to any position and work with any teammates, just as his idol, Cristiano Ronaldo, did during his time at the club.
