Kylian Mbappe's entourage worried France star's career could stall at Real Madrid if used in unnatural position - Reports
Real Madrid superstar Kylian Mbappe's entourage are reportedly worried about his career suffering due to playing in an unnatural position at the club. The Frenchman prefers to play as a left winger but he has been playing as an out-and-out striker in Carlo Ancelotti's system.
Kylian Mbappe joined Real Madrid as a free agent after leaving Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in the summer of 2024. Since his arrival, he has not been able to perform up to his potential for Los Blancos. In 15 outings across competitions, Mbappe has recorded eight goals and two assists.
According to a report by SPORT, Kylian Mbappe's performance at Real Madrid has raised concerns in his entourage. Although eh has played both on the left and as a center forward at PSG, he usually prefers the former position. However, Vinicius Jr. usually plays on the left in Ancelotti's system, leaving Mbappe as a striker.
The aforementioned report claims that Mbappe's close ones believe his form could further decline if he is not played in his preferred position. However, President Florentino Perez is reportedly open to prioritizing Mbappe over Vinicius Jr. in the team.
Los Blancos have been quite disjointed since Mbappe's arrival. In their 4-0 loss to Barcelona in LaLiga, the French superstar was caught offside eight times. Moreover, the attack has lacked coordination with the midfield, leading to a further decline in his form.
Why has Kylian Mbappe not performed up to the mark for Real Madrid?
While many would argue Kylian Mbappe is best utilized in the left wing, he is not alien to playing as a center forward. He has been employed at the center frequently at Paris Saint-Germain and the France national team.
As per Transfermarkt, Mbappe has played as a center forward in 242 games, recording 197 goals and 86 assists for club and country. In contrast, he has played as a left winger in 79 outings, recording 65 goals and 20 assists. However, things are presumably not panning out well for him at Real Madrid because he is not the focal point of the side.
In PSG, Mbappe had been lethal in the attack due to the creativity in the midfield offered by the likes of Marco Veratti and Leandro Paredes at that time. He would also drop into the midfield to contribute to creating chances. Moreover, the likes of Lionel Messi, Neymar, and Angel Di Maria in the attack provided the necessary support for Kylian Mbappe to flourish.
Despite Real Madrid having one of the best squads in Europe, the lack of coordination is perhaps costing them heavily this season. Los Blancos dominated Europe last season, winning the Champions League, LaLiga, and Supercopa de Espana.
In the current season, there's a lack of creativity and control in the midfield owing to the notable absence of Toni Kroos. The former German international was a gift to the Merengues' midfield, creating multiple chances in big games.
Moreover, Jude Bellingham is being rendered ineffective in the side. The Englishman performed at his peak while playing as an attacking midfielder last season (36 G/A in 42 games). However, with the arrival of Mbappe, Carlo Ancelotti has tried playing him in different positions including in the right and the central midfield. None of it has worked out with Bellingham yet to find the net this season.
It is also worth noting that Kylian Mbappe arguably delivered some of his best performances in the 2022 FIFA World Cup where he played predominantly on the left. The Frenchman scored an iconic hat-trick in the final against Argentina, although La Albiceleste beat France 4-2 on penalties to win the trophy.
Kylian Mbappe is still one of the best attackers in world football today who can operate both on the left and as a center forward. However, multiple issues with the Real Madrid squad as a whole may have hindered his progress this season.