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Fabio Capello criticized Kylian Mbappe’s debut at Real Madrid, noting his clash with Vinicius Jr’s position, midfield issues post-Toni Kroos, and frequent defender injuries.
Kylian Mbappe (L) and Vinicius Jr (R) of Real Madrid. (Image: X)
Former Real Madrid boss Fabio Capello has expressed his discontent over Kylian Mbappe’s performance in his debut season at the club.
The French international shifted his base to Madrid last summer on a free transfer. He, however, joined his new team a bit late due to his commitments with the national team during the EURO 2024. Mbappe was unveiled as a Real Madrid player at a full-house Santiago Bernabeu in July. Though fans were happy to see him in the white jersey, questions were asked about how Carlo Ancelotti would fit the former PSG man in his forward line.
During his seven-year stay at PSG, Mbappe mostly played in a free role, operating along the left flank. That position, however, was already assigned to Vinicius Jr at Real Madrid. It led coach Ancelotti to try the World Cup winner as a centre forward. Mbappe initially struggled to shine as a striker, but eventually, he seems to have got accustomed to that role.
Capello, however, appears to be not quite impressed by the way Mbappe and Vinicius are leading the Real Madrid attack. “Mbappe and Vinicius Jr play in the same position; they are stepping on each other and not performing well,” the ex-Italian midfielder, who won two La Liga titles with Real Madrid, said during an interview with Flashscore.
“As individuals, they can do what others can’t in tight spaces and do things nobody else thinks about, but that’s not the harmony of the team game,” he added.
Capello further feels that Real Madrid should have strengthened their midfield following the retirement of Toni Kroos. He also remains concerned about the frequent injury issues of the defenders.
“Real Madrid are a team of galacticos up front, with problems in the midfield after Toni Kroos left last summer, and they also have problems in defence with many injuries,” Capello explained.
At the start of the campaign, Mbappe dealt with injuries, which perhaps took a toll on his form. The 26-year-old has eventually gained momentum, with Ancelotti delighted by his recent performance across all competitions. Mbappe has already struck 28 goals in his 41 appearances for Real Madrid in the 2024-25 campaign.
