Former Real Madrid star Karim Benzema has weighed in on Kylian Mbappe’s role at the Spanish club, advising the Frenchman to adapt to playing as a central striker.
Benzema argued that Mbappe, who joined Madrid from Paris Saint-Germain this summer, faces a tough challenge as he cannot replace Brazilian forward Vinicius Junior on the left wing.
Benzema, speaking on Spanish television show El Chiringuito on Monday, pointed out that while Mbappe prefers playing from the left, Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has placed him in the central striker role due to Vinicius’s dominance on the wing.
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“The issue,” Benzema said, “is that Mbappe is not naturally a number nine. Even with the national team, he feels uncomfortable in that role. On the left, he’s got someone at his level — Vinicius — so there’s a problem.
Vinicius is impactful on the left; you can’t play him as a number nine or on the right.”
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Mbappe has shown promise since joining Madrid, scoring eight goals in 14 appearances across all competitions.
However, Benzema, who won the Ballon d’Or at Madrid in 2022 before his move to Al-Ittihad in Saudi Arabia, believes the 25-year-old needs to keep pushing himself to adapt to his new position.
“People expect a lot from Mbappe, and he’s under considerable pressure. This isn’t PSG; it’s Real Madrid, where if you go two or three games without scoring, the scrutiny is intense,” Benzema warned.
He further advised Mbappe to embrace his current position and “set aside the left flank for a while” rather than attempting to take Vinicius’s place, whom Benzema described as “currently the best player in the world.”
Real Madrid are set to play against AC Milan in the Champions League on Tuesday, a game where Mbappe’s adaptability in his central role may be tested further.
