Real Madrid finally signed Kylian Mbappe after three years of waiting. The French captain was close to joining Real Madrid in 2019 and 2022, but 15 times European Champions couldn’t reach an agreement with Paris Saint Germain despite reaching a deal with Kylian Mbappe on personal level.
After years of waiting, Real Madrid signed their man on a free transfer without paying a cent. Following the announcement and unveiling of Mbappe, many people have asked the question, where will the position and role of the French super be in the star-stunned Real Madrid attack?
Over the years, Mbappe has preferred to play on the left wing, sometimes as number nine. Currently, the left wing of Real Madrid’s attack is occupied by arguably the best player in the World and the favorite to win the Balond’or Vinicius Jr., and Rodrygo occupies the center of Read Madrid or sometime on the right wing.
However, last season, Carlos Ancelotti played a 4-3-1-2 formation, with Vinicius Jr. and Rodrygo playing as the two center forwards but mostly creating an overload on the left, with Jude Bellingham playing through the middle as a number 10 in a free role.
Many European sports outlets have reported that Carlo Ancelotti might switch to a 4-3-3 formation to accommodate Kylian Mbappe as the number 9 or push Jude Bellingham into midfield as a number 8, but Carlo Ancelotti has insisted that Jude Bellingham’s role will not change.
What did Carlo Ancelotti say?
Speaking to the media ahead of their pre-season game with Chelsea, The Italian tactician said, when quizzed about how Bellingham’s role will change with Mbappe: “Nothing changes for him. Nothing changes. The first season, he surprised a lot, because he showed fantastic quality, a really mature guy. The next season will not be different.
“He is going to be one of the best players that we have, supporting a lot the team with his quality. This is an opinion but Bellingham played really well at the Euros. England played really well, they reached the final and were close to winning it.”
Meanwhile, Carlo Ancelotti has asked the Chelsea owners to be patient with Enzo Maresca.
He said: “It’s changed a lot,’ Ancelotti said of Chelsea. ‘They invested a lot. They have a good squad, good players, young. They have a young manager. They need to be a little bit patient, the owners, to take experience, to grow.”
In the same press conference, Ancelotti ruled out the move for Kepa Arrizabalaga after a successful season on loan at Real Madrid.
He added: “In that position, we are covered,’ Ancelotti said. ‘Kepa did really well last season. He was with us. We were really happy to have him here but I don’t know what’s going to happen this season. We love him. We love him.”
