Ex-Real Madrid star praises Vinicius Jr. as “best in the world” on the left, advising Mbappe to adapt as the team’s central striker
Karim Benzema has offered a direct piece of advice to Kylian Mbappe, urging him to “get it into his head” that he must learn to be a No. 9 at Real Madrid. Benzema, a former French international and Real Madrid icon, highlighted the challenge Mbappe faces in adjusting to a new role at the Spanish club and emphasized that Vinicius Junior, currently excelling on the left wing, is unmatched in that position.
Since joining Real Madrid from Paris Saint-Germain over the summer, Mbappe has scored eight goals in 14 appearances across competitions, but he has not found the net in his last two matches. Benzema believes that, rather than competing for the left-wing spot, Mbappe should concentrate on mastering the center-forward role for the team.
“The issue for me is that Mbappe is not a natural No. 9,” Benzema told El Chiringuito. “Whenever he plays as a central striker for France, he’s not at his best. And on the left, there’s another player—Vinicius—who’s at the top of his game. You can’t push Vini to the right or as a center-forward; he shines best on the left.”
Vinicius, who narrowly missed out on the Ballon d’Or to Manchester City’s Rodri last week, has been in strong form with eight goals and five assists in all competitions. Benzema, now with Al-Ittihad, added that Mbappe will have to adjust to the pressure of scoring consistently in Madrid, where expectations are high.
“Real Madrid isn’t PSG,” Benzema said. “Mbappe has to accept this role, learn to live with the pressure, and understand that they brought him in to score. If you don’t score for a couple of games, they’ll be on you. He has to embrace that as a No. 9.”
The 25-year-old forward will aim to break his goal drought when Real Madrid faces AC Milan in the UEFA Champions League, where he will be watched closely for his ability to adapt to Benzema’s advice on his new role.
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