It was the transfer window of the summer. After months of speculation, Kylian Mbappé has moved to Real Madrid on a free transfer after his contract at Paris Saint-Germain expired. Signed until 2029, he earns £12.8m a year, plus a £128m signing bonus paid over five years. That’s a decent basis for living.
It would seem that everything is absolutely idyllic. The signature is already on paper and the world player has only one task left. To show Real Madrid who is the best on the pitch. But things are never that simple. How will Mbappé fit into the lineup of the European champions, whose star-studded attack already includes Vinícius Junior, Rodrygo, Jude Bellingham and Brazilian youngster Endrick? The young Frenchman has to prove that he is better, and by a lot.
The experts are clear, Ancelotti is not Real Madrid experts have been surprised by the humility and attitude Mbappé has shown since his arrival. Although, of course, this did not surprise those who know him best. He adapted well to whatever the new team threw at him. As an 18-year-old at PSG under coach Unai Emery, he told the club not only that he had to play every game, but also where he had to play, which was definitely not like the back nine. So how will they cope on the new turf? Now at Real Madrid, he plays just as a number nine, has fewer touches on the ball and is generally less involved. Coach Carlo Ancelotti has given him the freedom to move as he pleases, but if he moves to the left, it will end up clashing with Vinícius, who has an equal, if not greater, aversion to playing as a number nine. However, this is not Ancelotti’s only problem. Without Toni Kroos in the lineup, there is no cohesion in Real Madrid’s play. This makes it difficult for forwards who cannot rely on the invaluable support of their teammates as they have in the past.
