Former Real Madrid forward Karim Benzema believes Kylian Mbappe must adapt to playing as a central striker at Real Madrid, as displacing Vinicius Junior on the left wing is unlikely.
Since joining Real Madrid on a free transfer from Paris Saint-Germain in July, the French international has netted eight goals in 14 appearances, though he has only scored once in his last five outings. While Mbappe prefers the left-wing role, Real manager Carlo Ancelotti has kept Brazilian star Vinicius in that position, moving Mbappe into a central role.
Speaking on the Spanish show El Chiringuito, Benzema pointed out the challenge for Mbappe: “He’s not a natural central striker. Even for the national team, whenever he plays as a number nine, he looks out of place; that’s not his position.”
Benzema explained that Vinicius thrives on the left and is at a similar level to Mbappe. “Vinicius isn’t suited to playing as a central striker or on the right,” Benzema said, “because he makes a difference every game when he’s on the left. So, there’s a dilemma.”
As Real Madrid’s second all-time leading scorer and the 2022 Ballon d’Or winner before his move to Saudi Arabia’s Al-Ittihad, Benzema warned that high expectations could become a challenge for Mbappe. “If he goes a few games without scoring, the pressure will mount. This isn’t PSG,” he added, pointing to Real Madrid’s demanding environment.
In Real Madrid’s recent 4-0 loss to Barcelona, Mbappe struggled to make an impact, marking the end of Real’s 42-game unbeaten streak in La Liga. Meanwhile, Vinicius’ strong form has been recognized globally, with a runner-up spot to Rodri in last month’s Ballon d’Or voting.
Reflecting on Mbappe’s situation, Benzema advised: “He needs to fully embrace being a number nine for now. I don’t see him taking Vinicius’ place, who is currently the best in the world on the left. Mbappe has to mentally prepare to play centrally.”
SOURCE: BBC
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