Kylian Mbappe has signed for Real Madrid after leaving PSG at the end of his contract; the 25-year-old joins a star-studded attack at the European champions, with Vinicius Jr, Rodrygo and Jude Bellingham among the ranks – but how will the Frenchman fit into the team?
French football expert Jonathan Johnson analyses Kylian Mbappe’s move to Real Madrid on a free transfer from Paris Saint-Germain
Jude Bellingham slipped in Vinicius Jr to score and Real Madrid’s key forward pair had done it. A Champions League trophy delivered without a recognised, world-class No 9 in the team.
All the talk before, during and after Saturday’s win over Borussia Dortmund at Wembley surrounded how Carlo Ancelotti has masterminded another Real success having lost Karim Benzema last summer to Saudi Arabia. Now the talk is about how another French forward can take them to another level.Kylian Mbappe will arrive at Real Madrid having snubbed the Spanish giants three times. Once after a trial with Real’s U12 team, then twice to favour PSG in 2017 and 2022. Now he will arrive at the Bernabeu when his new side need him most.
Kylian Mbappe will arrive at Real Madrid having snubbed the Spanish giants three times. Once after a trial with Real’s U12 team, then twice to favour PSG in 2017 and 2022. Now he will arrive at the Bernabeu when his new side need him most.
“The only thing we’re missing is that clinical nine,” said Bellingham after Saturday’s Champions League final.
“If he was to come and give us that, we would be in a really great place to go and take us to another level. One of the best players in the world!”
Real will now have their world-class No 9 – arguably one of the best out there. The problem is, what happens to players like Vinicius and Bellingham following their heroics not just at Wembley, but all through the season?
Ancelotti reacted to the loss of Benzema by not directly replacing him, instead adopting a 4-3-1-2 formation, using Vinicius and Rodrygo as ‘split forwards’ who adopt wide areas – allowing new signing Bellingham to venture in a free role behind them at the tip of a midfield diamond.
