Former teammate of Kylian Mbappé in Blue, Karim Benzema bluntly gave his opinion on his debut falling short of expectations for Real Madrid.
The former Madrid captain, guest on the Spanish show “El Chiringuito”, estimated that the ex-Parisian is “not good” when he plays number 9.
A position that he must nevertheless make fully his own.
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Kylian Mbappé in turmoil
In the summer of 2023, Karim Benzema left Real Madrid, after 14 seasons of good and loyal service. One Champions League later, the Merengue have set their sights on Kylian Mbappé, free of any contract after his departure from PSG, to fill the void he left behind. It is therefore with particular attention that “KB9”, today in Saudi Arabia, followed the first steps in Madrid of its ex-partner in the French team.
First steps below expectations, despite more than adequate statistics with 8 goals and 2 assists in 14 matches, all competitions combined. Because, in Madrid, what is obvious is that Kylian Mbappé is not playing at his best level, like his… eight offsides during the slap received during the Clasico at home against at Barça (0-4). For the 2022 Ballon d’Or, the explanation for this mixed start to the season is obvious.
The problem is that Mbappé is not a number 9
Karim Benzema, former Real Madrid striker
“The problem is that he’s not a center forward”said the former Blues scorer (37 goals in 97 caps) in a rare interview with the Spanish media El Chiringuito (new window)Monday November 4. “Even in the national team, every time he plays as number 9, it’s not good, because it’s not his position. But on the left, he has a guy who is at the same level as him, Vinicius . So there is a problem.”
Except that, for the striker trained in Lyon, it is impossible to move “Vini” from place. “We can’t put him at number 9 or on the right, because by playing on the left, he makes the difference in every match”he assured about the Brazilian, 2nd in the 2024 Ballon d’Or. “We will have to see how Carlo Ancelotti will proceed. But I don’t think he will move Vinicius, because he is currently the best in the world in this position.”
Now he must become very good at another position
Karim Benzema, former Real Madrid striker
“If I have to give him advice? Don’t give up”launched Karim Benzema. “Mbappé must get it in his head that today he is a number 9, and forget a little about the left side. Then, he must find a way to swap with Vinicius. He is very good on the left, but now he must become very good at another position.” And this, even if the Al-Ittihad player is aware that it will take time and a lot of work. “People ask a lot of him, he has a lot of pressure. It’s not PSG”he said, recalling that in Madrid, “If you go two or three games without scoring a goal, you get killed.” “You can win the Ballon d’Or, whatever you want, three games later you don’t score and it starts again”he insisted.
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Huge expectations that Kylian Mbappé must fulfill. “So he has to learn to live with this pressure. He has to put positive pressure on himself. Every match is a new match, and he has to score goals. Because that’s what we brought you in for: to score goals “a conclu Karim Benzema. “He has the level and the talent to succeed.”
