Real Madrid Right to Pursue Kylian Mbappé Despite Flaw in Strategy | OneFootball

Kylian Mbappé’s early days at Real Madrid have been challenging following his free transfer from Paris Saint-Germain this summer. While the move made sense, given the mutual desire between the player and club, questions are now being raised about the decision from a tactical standpoint.

Mbappé has tallied eight goals and two assists in 16 matches this season, but consistency has been hard to come by. The Frenchman endured a challenging run of games leading up to the November FIFA international break.

His first El Clásico was a challenging experience, as Real Madrid was beaten 4-0 by Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabéu on October 26. A few days later, they faced another blow, losing 3-1 to AC Milan in the UEFA Champions League.

However, Real Madrid bounced back before the FIFA international break, securing a dominant 4-0 victory over CA Osasuna. Vinicius Junior impressed with a hat trick, and Jude Bellingham scored as well, though Mbappé struggled to impact the game.

Is Kylian Mbappé a tactical fit for Real Madrid?

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On the latest episode of The Lowdown podcast, Sky Sports’ Michael McCubbin acknowledges that, from a tactical standpoint, the 2018 FIFA World Cup winner might not make sense. Nonetheless, he offers a valid explanation for why Real Madrid pursued the player.

“I think the discussion around whether Mbappé was the best fit for Real Madrid this summer is valid,” McCubbin said. “If we’re taking out, like, the opportunity of the deal, him being on a free, etc., I think that is a conversation for sure.

“Stylistically, Mbappé was not the perfect player to come into this Real Madrid team, but I just think the fact that it was such a big opportunity for Real Madrid to take, and he always wanted the move, means that I can’t really get behind it. But stylistically, I see where you’re coming from.”