Kylian Mbappé and Real Madrid: A Historic Fit or Ancelotti’s Central Striker?

Recently, former Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Pierre Lučić spoke to AS about Mbappé’s move to the Spanish giants.

Lučić commented, “A great player joining the greatest club in the world, a team in transition – I’m curious to see how Mbappé will adapt.”

“Is it more that Mbappé needs Real Madrid, or does Real Madrid need him? I’d say 60% is that Mbappé needs Real Madrid more, as they’ve won everything and remain at the summit. Besides, he needs this step to contend for team honors he hasn’t won yet, like the Champions League, and individual accolades, like the Ballon d’Or.”

“Yet, there’s also a 40% chance that Real Madrid needs such an extraordinary player to fill the void left by legends like Benzema and Kroos, who have moved on, or someone like Modrić, whose time is limited. The club’s management is fantastic – they never stop striving for victory. What they’ve done over the years, signing promising youngsters and established stars, has been smart. They’re building a team that will be unstoppable for the next decade.”

“Tactically, how will he fit in? As a coach, I’m eager to see what Ancelotti will do. Mbappé is a versatile player, comfortable on the wings or through the middle. I recall at the ‘Galácticos’ era, when players like Figo and Beckham occupied similar right-side positions, one had to move centrally. I believe they’ll use Mbappé more as a central striker, with Vinícius Jr. on the left and Bellingham in the number 10 role. There will certainly be positional exchanges. No doubt, integrating him into the team will be a challenge.”

“What expectations are there for him as a Real Madrid player? He’s poised to make history. Madrid writes new chapters every year. They can continue to grow together on all fronts. Mbappé will elevate his historical standing as a player and mature further. Although he’s already 25, there’s still room for improvement in his game. Surrounded by so many stars, he’ll refine his decision-making – when to run, when not to, when to combine, when to break through. He’ll develop greatly in this aspect. He was outstanding in Paris, but now he’ll be surrounded by even higher-caliber players.”

“Will he become a leader? At Real Madrid, leadership comes from the whole squad. I’m a fan of Atlético because of my wonderful time there, but I admire Real Madrid’s approach to rebuilding. Changes are bound to happen soon. Some players will leave, and those mentally strongest, decisive, and adaptable will remain to deliver even better performances.”