Ex-Premier League forward questions Real Madrid’s Mbappe move – ‘Opted for a name that sells shirts’ | OneFootball

Kylian Mbappe’s long-awaited move to Real Madrid this summer promised to be the perfect story. After months of speculation and negotiations, the transfer finally happened, sparking excitement across the world.

However, the reality of the situation hasn’t matched the expectations. Despite winning the European Super Cup early on, the first part of the season has been tough for Mbappe and for Real Madrid as a whole.

The once-promising partnership seems to be facing difficulties, and the dream start has quickly turned into a complicated reality.

Troy Deeney’s take on Mbappe’s situation

Troy Deeney, a former Premier League striker, has shared his thoughts on Mbappe’s situation since joining Real Madrid. In a recent analysis on TalkSport (h/t AS), Deeney pointed out several factors that he believes are affecting the French forward’s adaptation.

Kylian Mbappe has failed to match the expectations. (Photo by Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images)

One of the key issues Deeney highlighted was the tactical setup under manager Carlo Ancelotti. According to Deeney, Mbappe is not a natural centre-forward, which creates a problem in a system that already has Vinicius Jr. on the left wing.

“I don’t think Mbappe is a natural centre forward. He can’t play on the left because Vinicius is there. Finding themselves in this situation is a huge mistake for Real Madrid,” he began saying.

Deeney suggested that the club might have made a mistake by prioritising Mbappe’s star power over tactical balance, and he recommended that a change in position, possibly moving Mbappe to the right wing, could help solve some of the issues.

“They have opted for a name that sells shirts and promotes the brand instead of what makes them win. Maybe they have to have a little conversation about playing on the right,” he added.

Questioning Mbappe’s performance

Kylian Mbappe is playing out of position. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

Deeney also questioned Mbappe’s current level of performance, saying that he hasn’t lived up to the high expectations.

He compared Mbappe’s move to Real Madrid to Manchester City’s signing of Erling Haaland, believing that both were seen as the missing pieces for their respective teams.

“He hasn’t been anywhere near the level we all expected. I thought when he signed that he was the missing piece for Real Madrid, like when City signed Haaland.”

However, Deeney feels that Mbappe’s lack of impact could be due to his ego taking priority over his work ethic.

“You expect him to score a lot of goals and be more or less unstoppable. What I think has happened, and this is my opinion, is that his ego is ahead of his work ethic,” he noted.

PSG and El Clasico debacle

Deeney has asked Kylian Mbappe to keep is ego aside. (Photo by Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images)

The differences between his time at PSG and Real Madrid also seem to be a factor in his struggle. Deeney pointed out that at PSG, Mbappe had more freedom and lower expectations, as the French league was often a one-horse race.

“At Real Madrid, you have Barcelona and Atlético in front of you and the expectations are that you win the league and the Champions League. That is weighing on him.”

In contrast, at Real Madrid, the pressure is much higher, with fierce competition from Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, as well as the expectation to win both La Liga and the Champions League. This increased pressure could be weighing heavily on Mbappe.

“At Real Madrid, you have Barcelona and Atletico in front of you and the expectations are that you win the league and the Champions League. That is weighing on him.”

Deeney also gave his view on Mbappe’s performance in El Clasico, where he was caught offside multiple times.

Deeney, who admitted to being slow on the pitch himself, expressed frustration at how quick players like Mbappe can be too eager in their runs, leading to offside calls.

“If this is his dream, he needs to start playing in the middle and avoid offside. When I saw him play against Barcelona, my god!”

“He was offside nine times. You’re quick. It pisses me off when they are fast guys, maybe because I’m slow, they’re too anxious with their runs.”

He stressed that if playing at Real Madrid is truly Mbappe’s dream, he needs to adjust his game, put his ego aside, and work even harder to meet the high demands of the club.