Karim Benzema has shared his thoughts on Kylian Mbappé's mixed start at Real Madrid. Despite scoring eight goals in fourteen games, the dream partnership has not yet been an outright success. According to Benzema, this is all due to the position his compatriot is playing.
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Benzema's recent comments on Kylian Mbappé’s role at Real Madrid have sparked a debate about the challenges the young star is facing in adapting to his new team and position.
According to Benzema, the “problem” is that Mbappé is not naturally suited to play as a central striker. Known for his speed and flair on the left wing, Mbappé has thrived in that position for both Paris Saint-Germain and the French national team. However, at Real Madrid, the left side is already dominated by Vinícius Júnior, whose dynamic performances have solidified his place. Benzema’s comments on El Chiringuito TV were blunt: “Every time [Mbappé] plays as the number 9 for France, he’s not effective. It’s not his position.” Benzema believes that trying to play Mbappé in the center forces him into a role that limits his potential impact.
The situation has led to comparisons with a similar dilemma faced by Real Madrid in the early 2000s, when the arrival of David Beckham created positional clashes. In 2003, President Florentino Pérez signed Beckham, a global superstar, to play on the right wing. However, Luis Figo was already firmly established there, leading to a challenging adjustment period as the two players and the team tried to balance their star power and positional needs. The Beckham-Figo scenario serves as a reminder of the challenges that can arise when two world-class talents are vying for similar roles.
For Mbappé, the issue is further complicated by the fact that Carlo Ancelotti is unwilling to move Vinícius from the left. This means that, to succeed, Mbappé must adapt to the number 9 role a transition Benzema suggests will require a mental shift. Benzema, now playing for Al-Ittihad, advised Mbappé to embrace the position, saying, “Mbappé needs to set it in his mind that he’s a number 9 and forget about the left side.” The transition will be demanding, Benzema acknowledged, as Madrid’s expectations are relentless. “He knows the pressure is enormous. If you don’t score for two or three games, they’ll tear you apart,” he warned. Benzema emphasized that Mbappé must learn to handle this pressure, adding, “He needs to put pressure on himself to score in every match. That’s why he was brought in, and he has that level.” The challenge, Benzema suggests, is as much about mindset as it is about skill.
Amid these high expectations, Real Madrid’s upcoming Champions League match against AC Milan adds even more intensity. All eyes will be on Mbappé, who faces not only the pressure to perform but also a personal showdown against AC Milan’s Mike Maignan, his French national teammate. Maignan, who also experienced a challenging start to the season under new Milan coach Paulo Fonseca, has been open about his respect for Mbappé’s talent. At a press conference, Maignan dismissed any rumors of tension between them, stating, “I have no issues with him, and he knows it. We talk often.” His remarks were in response to speculations that there may be friction between the two after Maignan was passed over as captain in October during Mbappé’s absence.
Maignan himself is aware of the heightened scrutiny, as Milan has struggled in the Champions League, with recent losses to Liverpool (3-1) and Bayer Leverkusen (1-0). Looking ahead to the match, Maignan expressed the difficulty of the upcoming game: “I think it will be a difficult night for all the players on the pitch. We’re up against Kylian. He’s a top player.” Reflecting on Mbappé’s current challenges, Maignan emphasized that true stars rise to the occasion when the stakes are high: “Even though he’s going through a rough patch, we know that great players always rise to the occasion when it’s expected of them.”
For Real Madrid, this Champions League match represents more than just another group stage game; it’s a test of Mbappé’s adaptability and his ability to deliver in a role he’s still learning to master. Both Benzema’s advice and Maignan’s perspective illustrate the unique pressures Mbappé faces. As Real continues to adjust with two stars vying for left-wing dominance, the question remains whether Mbappé can transform himself into the central striker role that Real Madrid needs. The clash with Milan will provide another opportunity for him to show he can rise to that challenge, while Maignan, his compatriot and now opponent, will be ready to prove himself as well.
