“He’s a very smart guy” - Frank Leboeuf predicts how many goals Kylian Mbappe will score in first 10 league games for Real Madrid
The question on every football fan's mind in pre-season has been how new Real Madrid signing Kylian Mbappe will adapt to his new surroundings. Former French center back Frank Leboeuf believes his countryman will take to the 15-time European champions like a duck to water.
Appearing in a football show on ESPN, Leboeuf answered a question posted on X by a fan who asked if the 25-year old would score more than 15 goals in his first 10 La Liga games with Real Madrid.
Lebouef predicted that the club's latest high-profile signing will adapt to the game very quickly because of his intelligence and predicted him to score 16 goals in 10 league games.
"16. I just think he’s going to get into the game very quickly. He’s a very smart guy," Leboeuf said on the show.
Football experts discuss Kylian Mbappe's debut Real Madrid season
Ever since he signed for Los Blancos, football forums have been abuzz with how they feel the Frenchman would adapt to life in Spain. The mercurial attacker was signed on a free from Paris Saint-Germain after his contract came to an end.
While other panelists from the show, Shaka Hislop and Don Hutchison, had their doubts, Leboeuf highlighted that he has already made plans for Mbappe's debut:
“I’ve already told my wife we won’t go to the restaurant [on the night of Mbappe’s La Liga debut]. I want to watch Kylian Mbappe.”
Although Hislop and Hutchison said that Madrid's high-profile signing won't be able to go above 15, Real Madrid fans would surely be delighted if he delivers the 14 goals in his first 10 La Liga games as the duo predicted.
You can watch the whole segment here:
Mbappe is aiming to follow in the footsteps of Real Madrid's high-profile signing from last season, Jude Bellingham. The Englishman had an impressive start to his Madrid career, scoring in each of his first four competitive appearances for the club, becoming only the third player in their history to do so. The other two are Cristiano Ronaldo in 2009-10 and Pepillo in 1959-60.
The Frenchman needs 36 goal contributions to have the most prolific start to a La Liga season in the 21st century. We'll have to just wait and watch to see if he can write his name in the history books.