What would Kylian Mbappe’s biggest challenges be at Real Madrid? Coexisting in attack with Vini Jr and more

With Kylian Mbappe now officially leaving Paris Saint-Germain this summer, thoughts turn to what’s next for the French international, with Real Madrid the heavy favorites to sign him once his contract expires at the Parc des Princes. The Spanish champions could be about to add another UEFA Champions League title to their list of honors, so Mbappe could arrive in Madrid to play in defense of the double winners, which is not the easiest situation to face. Carlo Ancelotti’s team is a well-oiled machine and the 25-year-old won’t necessarily be an immediate choice for the current team without a bit of work for the Italian tactician in terms of reshaping his starting eleven.

So, what are the biggest challenges Mbappé will face with Real next year?

Entering the current attack

The most obvious question is where does Mbappe fit in? The answer to that – obviously – lies in attack, but where in attack is Vini Jr. on the left and Jude Bellingham in the middle in an advanced role that puts Rodrygo on the right. Logically, Mbappe should be played in a more central position, which hasn’t necessarily been convincing for him so far, and would certainly impact the England international in terms of immediate positioning. It will also likely create a clash between Mbappe and Vini Jr., who essentially plays in the same position as the Bleus captain and certainly brings the biggest impact in the same left area of ​​the field.

Earning Ancelotti’s trust

What will happen between Mbappe and Vini Jr. will be particularly revealing in the first few months, as Ancelotti will have to assess which player brings the most in his natural position on the left side, but also – and more importantly – who is more convincing through the middle. Whoever it is will likely be asked to persevere in that position when Real play at 100%, and if that happens, Ancelotti’s whisper-star status will come to the fore tenfold. If there is a coach in world football who can earn Mbappe’s respect from the beginning in Madrid, it is the Italian master and the duo’s relationship from the beginning will be of enormous importance in defining what the Frenchman’s start to life with Real will be like.

No longer a single star

In Paris, Mbappe evolved from a growing fish in a large lake to a larger creature in a substantial body of water and, finally, a gigantic specimen in an increasingly smaller environment. Coming to Real now, at the age of 25 and after seven years as the golden boy of French football, Mbappe won’t necessarily be the Santiago Bernabeu’s only attraction, although he is by far its newest and most exciting addition. Display. How will the Bondy-born talent react to sharing the spotlight with teammates of similar stature to him, though not on the same level of stardom?

Showing your hunger to win

One of the main criticisms of Mbappe during his career so far has been a perceived lack of ambition at PSG and during such a long period in Ligue 1. Despite a lack of Champions League success in Paris, the iconic number 7 has racked up impressive numbers of titles. given his age and the expectation is that he will continue like this at Real. However, how strong will his personal hunger be when he joins what could be a defending UCL title team to defend this season’s trophies rather than win them again? This will be one of the strongest challenges that Mbappe will have to overcome in Madrid, given the frustrations at the end of his time at the Parc des Princes.

Living up to Zidane and Benzema

Finally, there is the obvious obstacle of following in the footsteps of not only Cristiano Ronaldo, but also Zinedine Zidane and Karim Benzema. Both of Mbappe’s compatriots won the Ballon d’Or during their careers, but Zizou’s triumph came with Juventus, while Benzema had to wait years to thrive as a leading man. Ronaldo, however, won four of his five titles during his time at Real and that is undoubtedly the biggest challenge of all, given the impact the Portuguese star has had on modern football as part of his rivalry with the Barcelona great. , ​​​Lionel Messi. Will there be another Barça star to rival Mbappé? Perhaps this could be the biggest motivator for the Parisian prodigy as he looks to write another page of his own.