Perhaps Real Madrid’s greatest weapon is also their biggest cross to bear. We are, of course, talking about Kylian Mbappe.
Real Madrid’s insipid 1-1 draw at Girona made it three successive La Liga stalemates for the Madrid powerhouse. They even struggled at Olympiacos last week, relying on the goal-scoring feats of Mbappe to squeak past the unfancied Greek outfit.
The Bernabeu played host to recent NFL action, forcing Real into a congested series of away fixtures. Still, this is Real Madrid, and the mere scent of stagnation will not be tolerated.
Virtually every key Barca player has been injured at some point this season, and they still top the table! Xabi Alonso is facing growing scrutiny amidst rumours of dressing room unrest.
But I want to proffer another reason for their recent woes, and it’s going to sound insane. Perhaps Real Madrid’s greatest weapon is also their biggest cross to bear. I am, of course, talking about Kylian Mbappe.
Goal-Scoring Feats
I know, I know. Mbappe has been in devastating form for Los Blancos this season, scoring 23 goals and assisting three in just 19 matches. He created history last season, scoring more goals in a debut campaign than any previous Real player while securing the Pichichi Trophy.
His penalty against Girona ensured that he has scored 60 goals in a calendar year for the very first time in his career. This is not a referendum on Mbappe as a player. The Frenchman is a goal-scoring sensation blessed with brute power and the speed of an Olympic athlete.
This is more of an appraisal of the potentially damaging effects that he has on the squad (particularly with the egos present in contemporary football).
Mbappe fails to take PSG to the promised land
Parisians will reject my hypothesis offhand, pointing towards the six successive league titles he won at PSG. He enjoyed unparalleled domestic success in Paris, becoming their all-time top goalscorer while also securing a rare domestic quadruple in the 2019/2020 season.
But regardless of how good that sounds, you could make a compelling argument that his time at PSG was a failure. Ligue 1 was a prototypical farmer’s league, with PSG running roughshod with their oil money. That side failed to parlay Qatari bullion into Champions League success, despite having the fated trio of Mbappe, Messi and Neymar for a spell.
To make matters worse, Luis Enrique would go on to win the Champions League the season after Mbappe vacated the French capital, utilising a squad of intricately assembled pieces that flew in the face of the previous ‘Galactico’s’ style setup.
Mbappe’s dream move
Mbappe was involved in a long courtship with Real Madrid, playing footsie with the Spanish giants in the wake of every shock European exit. PSG were made to go to increasingly crazy lengths to keep the Frenchman (I wouldn’t be surprised if the Eiffel Tower belongs to him).
He eventually got his mega-money move and has since flourished in front of goal. But what has happened to Real since he joined? Los Blancos relinquished the Champions League to PSG last season, bowing out meekly to Arteta’s resurgent Arsenal.
Perhaps more tellingly, they surrendered their La Liga crown to Hansi Flick’s vibrant Barcelona side. Mbappe’s first season ended with the departure of Don Carlo Ancelotti and the arrival of Xabi Alonso.
Managing egos
Mbappe the player isn’t the problem (he is arguably the best player in the world). I think that Mbappe’s impact on a squad is an issue. When he plays, he is the man. That was all well and good during his early days at Monaco (who are probably still a rung beneath the elite European clubs).
He- like many elite talents- possesses a star-sized ego that needs maintenance (like a pot plant). Trying to get a player like him into a side filled with creatures of similar ego was always going to be tough. It’s not surprising that sources suggest Vini Jr is less than happy with Alonso.
Vini Jr- and Rodrygo for that matter- have every right to feel aggrieved at how things have panned out. Why should they feel less integral to Real’s future after achieving everything for the club? You could add Bellingham to that list, too.
This is a generation of guys who watched the Last Dance and believe there is only space for one top dog (they seem to forget that Scottie Pippen and co still got their rings at the end of the day). CR7 walked into a Real side that was tailor-made for his prominence. Players like Modric and Ozil were happy to relinquish the spotlight for success.
Even the brash Benzema adapted his game to accommodate Ronaldo’s all-consuming need for attention. I don’t think this Real side- with all they have won- is in the same mental space. A similar thing happened at PSG. Everything became about the power of personality. Team cohesion was secondary to pissing contests about individual greatness.
Success with Les Bleus is a different beast
But what about Mbappe’s unquestionable feats for the national team? He led France to the 2018 FIFA World Cup before scoring a hat-trick in their epic 2022 runner-up finish. I don’t think you can really compare playing for your national side to club competition.
Playing for your club is like a marriage while playing for your country is like a wild fling: you meet up every now and then and spend a few months together every other year. Resentment just doesn’t have as much time to settle in .
Also, patriotic pride might make it easier for players to relinquish their egos for the greater good. I’m not saying that Mbappe can’t be a massive success in club football. He has already achieved considerable things in his club career.
I just think he will probably fare better in a side that defers to him as their star. The current Real side may have too much ego to assimilate the force of nature that is Kylian Mbappe, and keep all other parties pleased.
