Karim Benzema did not hold back when sharing his views on Real Madrid and the Kylian Mbappé situation when invited to speak on the topic.
Just over a year ago, Benzema, now 36, left Real Madrid after many years of loyal service. Replacing such a prominent figure was a significant challenge for Los Merengues. Instead of signing a world-class striker to fill the number 9 position, the Madrid club opted to rely on the Rodrygo-Vinicius Jr. duo while drawing on Joselu’s experience. This choice has proven successful, as Real Madrid, with the exceptional support of Jude Bellingham, managed to secure both the La Liga title and the Champions League.
Benzema speaks out on the Mbappé situation
Despite the success of their attack, Florentino Pérez and his team decided to further strengthen their offensive line. Thus, both Endrick (18) and Kylian Mbappé (25) joined the club in the summer of 2024. While Mbappé’s performance has been promising—with 8 goals and 2 assists in 14 matches across all competitions—the French star has yet to reach his peak form. As the captain of the French national team, he still needs to find his footing and develop a strong rapport with his teammates. However, some have criticized him for a lack of defensive commitment, sparking debate within the team itself.
Now far from Madrid, Karim Benzema, who knows Kylian Mbappé well from their time together on the French national team, continues to follow the club’s news closely. In an interview with El Chiringuito yesterday, he was asked to share his thoughts on Mbappé’s role. “To me, the issue is that Mbappé isn’t a center-forward. Every time he plays as a number 9 for France, it doesn’t work; that’s not his position. The problem is, on the left, there’s another player of the same caliber… we can’t put Vini on the right or as a striker. Where he really makes a difference is on the left. Let’s see how Ancelotti handles this situation.”
Kylian Mbappé Needs to Adapt
Asked about the advice he would give his fellow Frenchman, Benzema didn’t hold back. “Mbappé isn’t a number 9. At Real Madrid, the pressure is immense, very different from what he faced at PSG. My advice? He needs to persevere (…) I doubt Ancelotti will move Vinicius, who’s currently the best in the world at that position. Mbappé has to accept becoming a number 9 and let go of his role on the left. He’s excelled on the left, but now, he has to deliver in a different position.” With over a decade at Real Madrid under his belt, Benzema offers advice that Mbappé will likely take into consideration.
Benzema also drew a comparison between his own journey and that of Mbappé: “The situation I faced in my first year and Kylian’s current situation are different. I was 21, and he’s 25; it’s not the same. He knows the pressure at Real Madrid is intense. If you don’t score for two or three games, the criticism is harsh. It doesn’t matter if you’ve won the Ballon d’Or; three games without a goal, and the critics will be back… He needs to learn to live with this constant pressure that comes with being at Real Madrid. Each match is a new test, and he’s expected to score. He has the talent and all the qualities needed to succeed.”
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