In all honesty I don’t think Real Madrid really wanted to pursue AS Monaco striker Kylian Mbappe’s signature this summer. They’d have been happy to leave the young Frenchman alone and spend another year in the south coast of France.

But the increasing unpredictability that has surrounded this transfer window along with the strong interest in the teenage hitman from sides such as Manchester City, Arsenal and PSG have forced Madrid to step up their own interest.

See Real can’t afford to watch the youngster develop into a world class striker elsewhere.

The story reminds me of Manchester United signing Wayne Rooney in 2004. I think Sir Alex Ferguson would’ve been content to see Rooney spend another season at Everton but then Newcastle Utd made a strong and big offer for the player and United had to step in and conclude a quick deal for the young prodigy.

Not since Ronaldo in the mid-nineties has a teenage player captured the imagination of the footballing world as Mbappe has during his first full season in Ligue 1.

Like the original Ronaldo, Mbappe looks extremely skilful, raw and has a killer instinct when bearing down on goal. Possibly not as physical as the Brazilian but Kylian is just as direct and he also possess bags of speed.

Ronaldo took the world by storm in the nineties and Real clearly don’t want to see Mbappe do similar things at another club.

Offloading Alvaro Morata, Danilo and James Rodriguez frees up funds and creates space within the squad.

The player seems to prefer a move to the Bernabeu with working alongside Cristiano Ronaldo and under Zinedine Zidane being a major pull for the young forward.

Zizou recently heaped praise onto the youthful star:

‘Mbappe is very good. He’s a talent of 18 years and has personality,’ he said.

‘He’s great as a player and has shown all year, but (he’s) not my player, I can not say more.’

His maturity last term, along with his twenty-six goals in forty-four appearances have clearly convinced the Real powerbroker’s that Mbappe is Galactico worthy. His six strikes in nine Champions League games was a particularly stunning feat for one so young. His potential seems limitless at this stage!

The fact Los Blancos are willing to spend around £160m on the teenager is enough to show you that they think he’s the next big thing and that he’s capable of starring for them in this up and coming season.

Whether that’s as the main centre forward or on the left remains to be seen. I don’t doubt he’d find his way in the middle eventually but I think Zidane might rotate him between the two to begin with and also bench him once and awhile to keep him from burning out.

For one so young, Kylian Mbappe already has a great understanding of the game. He has all the attributes to link up effectively with Ronaldo, Karim Benzzema or Gareth Bale and interchange with any of them.

It’s certainly a transfer that has sparked huge interest. If concluded it will be huge for the club and for the player himself.

I have no doubt Real Madrid know what they are getting and that’s why they are willing to push the boat out for him. But if they do capture football’s hottest prospect then I hope they let him grow naturally in La Liga and don’t demand too much too soon. In that regard I am sure boss Zidane will look after hm and guide away from any potential pitfalls.

Posted on July 29th, 2017 by scott
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