Kylian Mbappé’s start at Real Madrid has been far from smooth, with one of the main issues being his position on the field.
According to the Spanish outlet Sport on Wednesday, the French star is reportedly unhappy playing as a central striker, and coach Carlo Ancelotti is faced with limited options to resolve the situation.
Mbappé prefers to operate from the left wing – where Brazilian teammate Vinícius Júnior currently plays – creating a difficult conflict for the team as neither player can easily be benched.
“Real Madrid’s version of Mbappé isn’t working, and a key reason is the French star’s own performance. His arrival has destabilised the team both offensively and defensively, and Mbappé is reportedly growing tired of playing as a centre-forward.
“Coach Carlo Ancelotti has limited options, as Mbappé and Vinícius play the same position, setting up a difficult conflict. It’s a major problem for the Italian manager, as neither player can be easily benched,” the report said.
So far, Mbappé has had one of his least impressive starts to a season, scoring 8 goals in 15 matches. These numbers fall short of the stellar statistics he achieved at PSG, where he played on the left and enjoyed more freedom.
At Madrid, however, he has found fewer spaces and opportunities, leading to visible frustration on the pitch.
Real Madrid was aware of Mbappé’s past friction with Neymar at PSG due to their overlapping roles on the left.
Although the Brazilian’s frequent injuries allowed Mbappé to take on a larger role, PSG ultimately opted to transfer Neymar to give Mbappé more control.
Now at Madrid, Vinícius holds Mbappé’s preferred position, and at present, the Brazilian is viewed as a more decisive player for the team. To move forward, Madrid may need to choose between the two if they wish to create a sustainable project.
Sport noted that according to sources close to Mbappé, there is growing concern about his situation at Real Madrid.
The Frenchman is beginning to be seen as the team’s main problem, as he has struggled to find the net consistently and does not contribute much defensively – a role that both Vinícius and Rodrygo have been more willing to fulfil.
His decision to join Madrid, despite multiple offers, is now being questioned as a potential mistake that could hinder his career development.
However, those close to him believe that if Florentino Pérez were forced to choose, he would likely favour Mbappé over Vinícius.
Ancelotti now faces a tactical dilemma, and so far, he has been unable to find a solution. In high-stakes matches, it’s proving difficult for Vinícius and Mbappé to play together, and benching either one could cause a significant upset.
Mbappé’s arrival has also impacted other players: Rodrygo has seen reduced playing time, and Jude Bellingham has been forced to play in a deeper role, exhausting himself trying to cover defensively where the forwards do not.