Kylian Mbappe’s reputation at Real Madrid has sunk to a new low.
The France captain signed as a Galactico from PSG, and although his numbers have been excellent, it’s becoming clear why Paris are better without him.
Mbappe has regularly been called out for his lack of work up front, something he himself has dismissed, while he’s unfavourably been compared to Vinicius Jr.
The pair of superstar forwards have been called out for another trophyless campaign, but Vinicius has at least apologised to fans and turned up in following matches.
And if Mbappe’s attitude on the pitch wasn’t bad enough, his activities off it are now causing problems as he’s regularly being spotted on trips with his new celebrity girlfriend, Ester Expósito, while Madrid are playing.
Currently injured, his latest trip was photographed while Madrid were trying to end the season with some honour against Espanyol, and no one is happy with the situation.
Madrid fans have had enough of Mbappe
“I think Mbappé is pushing the limits of Real Madrid fans’ patience,” pundit Antonio Romero said.
“They no longer buy the claim that he’s very good and has scored 40 goals, because that’s undeniable.
“What they do accept is that he’s been completely unsuccessful in his first two years at Real Madrid and that this year, when the team needed Mbappé, he wasn’t there because he was going to France.
“Muscle strain is nothing serious, a minor muscle injury.
“So, I think he’d be better off working at Valdebebas than traveling the world and appearing on social media dressed in anything but football gear.”
In another radio appearance, Romero was even more damning.
“This week he has shown once again that he is more Kylian Mbappé than any other club. Everyone has the right to have days off, but when the dressing room is like it is, if he wants to be a leader in the dressing room, he has to be there, and he isn’t.”
“I’m not a doctor, but I understand that it’s better to be in Valdebebas recovering than to be dining in a restaurant and on a boat outside of Spain,” he said.
“It’s a matter of image, for you, for the fans, for the board, and fundamentally for your teammates. It’s not the first time he’s done it.
“Then he scores 50 goals and, even if he wins zero titles, he’s the best player in the world.”
AS editor Tomas Roncero was just as upset.
“Mbappé lives in his own little world, he hasn’t connected with what Real Madrid is all about despite it being his dream since childhood,” he commented.
“If someone truly appreciates him, they have to tell him: ‘You can’t just go away these days, you have to play in the Clásico and give it your all.’
“Because the feeling he gives is that he lives a life separate from the pain that Madrid fans feel for the disastrous season they’ve had.”
Mbappe thinks he’s Messi
Bruno Alemany was also keen to analyse how poor Mbappe has been for the collective on the pitch.
He said: “We talk a lot about Mbappé’s commitment, his lack of commitment in this case without the ball, how little he helps his team when pressing, and we rarely talk about what Real Madrid does when they have possession.
“He doesn’t make enough runs considering how good Mbappé is at running and making space.
“Even if you only have four meters to make a run, your team will benefit from you making runs frequently.
“And what Mbappé has done this season is ask for the ball at his feet, take risks, and think he’s Messi. But Kylian Mbappé isn’t Messi.
“Mbappé is a different type of player, and sometimes he can beat two defenders and score a screamer, but that’s not his style of play. And when he understands that, he’ll be an even better player than he already is.”
He finished: “Bellingham and Vinicius would have had a better season with a different type of center forward, there’s no doubt about it.”
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