Real Reason Kylian Mbappé Can’t Play Left-Wing, Beyond Vinícius | OneFootball

Kylian Mbappé’s early days at Real Madrid haven’t been without their struggles. Despite a solid performance in terms of numbers—eight goals and two assists in 14 appearances—he has faced challenges adjusting to his new team’s playing style.

His debut in El Clásico was especially underwhelming, as Real Madrid suffered a heavy 4-0 defeat to Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabéu on October 26. The tough run continued on Tuesday, with Real Madrid losing 3-1 to AC Milan in the UEFA Champions League.

That result marked the second consecutive home defeat, with the team conceding a combined 7-1 scoreline. Throughout both games, PSG’s all-time top scorer found it difficult to make a significant impact.

Pundit believes Kylian Mbappé could be on the bench soon

Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images

On Canal+, pundit Bertrand Latour spoke about what will transpire with Mbappé if these struggles at Real Madrid and he believes that the Frenchman could see the bench.

“There, I hear a lot of talk about how the No. 9 isn’t his position, so he’s not in the best conditions,” Latour said. “The issue is that I remember, especially during his first season in Ligue 1 or the Champions League, he wanted to play as a No. 9, but especially when he was playing left wing, he didn’t make as much of an impact as he did two years ago.

“Already, offensively and defensively, he wasn’t running either, which caused other defensive problems. So, at some point, he can’t play left because he doesn’t make a difference and doesn’t defend. And the No. 9 position isn’t his position. Soon, his best position at Real Madrid will be next to Carlo Ancelotti.”

Amid all the criticism, SPORT has reported that the 2018 FIFA World Cup winner isn’t interested in playing as a No. 9 for Real Madrid. He’d rather stick to his usual role on the left, which is currently Vinicius Junior’s spot. As a result, it puts the Spanish side in a difficult situation.