“Kylian Mbappe needs to accept center-forward role to succeed at Madrid” – Benzema

Former Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema, on November 4, 2024, expressed that Kylian Mbappe needs to get used to playing as a central striker in the Spanish capital since he cannot take Vinicius Junior’s place on the left flank.

Reports claim that Mbappe moved to Madrid this summer after his contract with Paris Saint-Germain expired, but he hasn’t yet found his best under Carlo Ancelotti.

Mbappe, who prefers to play on the left, has been moved to the center by the coach, who has kept Brazil international Vinicius in his favorite position on the wing.

“The problem, in my opinion, is that Mbappe is not a central striker; even with the national team, every time he plays as a number nine, he doesn’t feel comfortable because it’s not his natural position”, Benzema disclosed on Monday night.

He continued: “On the left, he’s got someone at his level; Vinicius, so there’s a problem.

“You can’t play Vinicius as a number nine or on the right; he’s at his best on the left, where he makes an impact in every game.

“Mbappe isn’t a true number nine.

“People have high expectations of him, and he’s under a lot of pressure.

“This isn’t Paris Saint-Germain”, he added.

The 25-year-old has made 14 appearances across all competitions since leaving PSG to join Madrid, scoring eight goals.

Before joining Saudi Arabia’s Al-Ittihad last year, Benzema won the Ballon d’Or at Real Madrid in 2022.

He encouraged Mbappe to keep up his hard work in order to adjust to his new position.

“I’d tell him; don’t give up, because I don’t think he’ll push Vinicius out of position.

“He’s currently the best player in the world”, Benzema continued.

“Mbappe needs to accept that, for now, he’s playing as a number nine and set aside the left flank for a while”.

Mbappe was cautioned by Benzema, who played for Real Madrid for 14 seasons after joining the team in 2009.

He added: “if you go two or three games without scoring, you’re going to face a lot of scrutiny”.

Real Madrid will play AC Milan in the Champions League on Tuesday.

About Kylian Mbappe

Mr. Kylian Mbappé is a French professional football player.

Mr. Mbappé started playing football at an early age.

His father, Mr. Wilfried Mbappé, was a coach at AS Bondy’s junior program

Mbappé was born in Paris, France, on December 20, 1998.

He was sent to France’s national football academy, Clairefontaine, at the age of eleven.

He further joined Monaco’s junior team in 2015.

At the early age of 16, he made his Monaco professional debut in 2015.

In 2016, he became the youngest player to score in the Champions League with his first goal.

Kylian Mbappé gained notoriety quickly and decisively.

He became one of the most expensive players in history when he joined Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in 2017 for an estimated €180 million.

He had an instant influence on the club and has since grown to be a crucial component of PSG’s offensive strategy.

Mbappé has had a remarkable international career as well.

He made his France debut in 2017 at the age of 18, and he was instrumental in France’s World Cup victory in 2018.

Mbappé accomplished amazing feats and broken several records over his career.

He became one of the most expensive teenagers in football history, and the youngest player to score in the Champions League as per report.

Kylian Mbappe was reported as the fastest player to reach 100 goals in Ligue 1.

He has won the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

The French player had been nominated for FIFA World Player of the Year in 2019.

He won Ligue 1 four times for his on-field accomplishments.

On the field, Mbappé’s style and abilities are simply remarkable.

He is renowned for his vision, inventiveness, clinical finishing, and lightning-fast quickness.

He is a headache for opposition teams because of his effortless ability to dribble past defenders.

Mbappé is respected off the field for his generosity, politeness, and humility.

He has backed a number of humanitarian initiatives, such as the “Mbappé Foundation”.

He has more than 50 million Instagram followers and 10 million Twitter followers.

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