Karim Benzema on how Mbappe can be a success at Real Madrid after a mixed start at the Los Blancos has mixed reviews.
Karim Benzema believes that French superstar Kylian Mbappe will have to adapt to his new home to become a success.
The former Real Madrid man made it clear that he will have to learn to play as a central striker at the club. Vinicius Junior is currently a lock at the Frenchman’s preferred left-wing spot.
The sensation of France, Mbappe, joined Real Madrid when his contract with Paris St-Germain expired in July. He has made 14 appearances for his new team and scored eight goals, but he has only scored once in his last five games.
The 25-year-old prefers to play on the left wing, but boss Carlo Ancelotti has forced Mbappe to play centrally by keeping Brazil international Vinicius there.
“The problem, in my opinion, is that [Mbappe] is not a central striker, even with the national team, every time he plays as a number nine he doesn’t feel right, because that’s not his position,” former France striker Benzema said on Spanish television show El Chiringuito.
“On the left, he’s got a guy who’s at the same level as him, Vinicius, so there is a problem, you can’t play Vinicius as a number nine or on the right, because when he plays on the left he makes the difference in every game.
“Mbappe isn’t a real number nine. People ask a lot of him and he’s under a lot of pressure, this isn’t Paris St-Germain.”
Before joining Saudi Arabia’s Al-Ittihad last year, Benzema won the Ballon d’Or while he was a member of Real Madrid in 2022. He is currently Real Madrid’s second-highest scorer of all time, behind Cristiano Ronaldo.
The 36-year-old, who won four La Liga crowns and five Champions Leagues in his 14 seasons at the Bernabeu, cautioned Mbappe that “you’re going to have a lot of problems if you go two or three games without a goal.”
In addition to only scoring once in the previous five games, Mbappe was unable to contribute as rivals Barcelona defeated Real Madrid 4-0 at home, ending Real’s 42-game La Liga winning streak.
In the men’s Ballon d’Or vote, teammate Vinicius was second behind Manchester City midfielder Rodri.
On his advice to Real’s present number nine, Benzema said: “Don’t give up, because I don’t think he’s going to push Vinicius to move. He’s the best player in the world at the moment.
“Mbappe needs to get it into his head that today he’s a number nine, and forget about the left flank for a while.”