Kylian Mbappe will wear the No 9 shirt in his first season at Real Madrid but where will he fit into his new team’s star-studded attack?
The 25-year-old has spent much of his career to date playing as an attacking left winger, but he was deployed more frequently as a central striker by Paris Saint-Germain last season.
Meanwhile, Madrid’s attacking spots in the 2023-24 campaign were usually filled by the likes of Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo and Joselu.
Most of those players featured in multiple attacking positions throughout the season, apart from Joselu – who played almost exclusively in the traditional No 9 role.
Joselu has since left Madrid to join Al-Gharafa in Qatar.
Kylian Mbappe pictured waving to fans at his Real Madrid presentation ceremony on July 16
Former PSG ace Mbappe will wear the No 9 shirt during his first season with the Spanish giants
Mbappe pictured in the dressing room at Madrid’s famous Estadio Santiago Bernabeu home
However, as explained by Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti during an appearance on the Obi One Podcast, Mbappe is unlikely to be a direct replacement for Joselu.
Instead, Ancelotti expects his attack in 2024-25 to be fluid, with Mbappe, Bellingham, Vinicius and Rodrygo frequently changing positions.
Asked where Mbappe will play, Ancelotti replied: ‘I see him playing up front. The front, the attack, is quite wide – the pitch is 68 metres. We have to cover these 68 metres with the players in front.
‘If I ask you where Vinicius played last season, it’s difficult to say. He didn’t [always] play as a left winger. He moved.
‘The important key to the attacking players is the mobility of the players. Sometimes they can play on the left, sometimes down the middle.
‘Bellingham sometimes played on the left, sometimes in the middle, sometimes went to the right. Rodrygo started most of the games on the right, sometimes I saw him playing on the left. So it’s important, the mobility.
‘I want to give them freedom. They have to be able to manage the situation of the game. We played one game against City with both Vinicius and Rodrygo on the left, because we thought we could take advantage.
‘We are not so worried where Mbappe will play. I think it’s true, it’s important about the mobility up front.’
Mbappe will join a Madrid team that already includes Jude Bellingham (left), Vinicius Junior (centre) and Rodrygo (right)
Ancelotti, 65, pictured overseeing a training session at Madrid’s Valdebebas base last week
Italian Ancelotti has taken charge of nearly 300 matches over two spells as Madrid manager
Mbappe has been on holiday in Miami and Los Angeles since his France side exited Euro 2024 at the semi-final stage earlier this month.
His Madrid team-mates are also heading to the States this summer – to play friendly matches against AC Milan, Barcelona and Chelsea.
Mbappe’s official Madrid debut is expected to come on August 14 in the UEFA Super Cup final against Atalanta.
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Source: Tampa Bay Times
