Mbappé confesses 4 months after arriving in Madrid: “I didn’t think the players…”

After the 3-0 win over Leganés in La Liga, Kylian Mbappé expressed his surprise at the level of Real Madrid’s reserve team, La Castilla. His revelation echoes the impressive performances of young defender Raúl Asencio, now in the spotlight following the injury to Eder Militao.

After scoring a goal from a perfect pass from Vinícius Jr in the win over Leganés on Sunday evening, Kylian Mbappé shared a thought that surprised many observers. The France international, who is discovering the world of Madrid, admitted that he was impressed by the level of the players in La Castilla, Real Madrid’s reserve team.

‘I was surprised by the level of Castilla. I didn’t even think the players there were that good,’ confided Mbappé in the mixed zone after the match. These comments no doubt reflect the excellence of the Madrid team, often considered one of the best in the world. But it is above all the recent performances of Raúl Asencio, a young defender from La Castilla, that epitomise this quality.

Vini Jr. assist ➡️ Mbappé goal 💥 pic.twitter.com/YmAzOPUumB

— B/R Football (@brfootball) November 24, 2024

Raúl Asencio, the new rising star

The injury to Eder Militao, who suffered a cruciate ligament rupture, forced Carlo Ancelotti to dip into the Castilla ranks. As a result, Raúl Asencio has been called upon to bolster Real Madrid’s central defence. The young defender made an immediate impact when he came on against Osasuna before the international break. Within minutes of coming on, he delivered a sumptuous pass to Jude Bellingham, who opened his La Liga account.

🗣️ Carlo Ancelotti: “Raul Asencio had a very good, serious and mature game. I liked it a lot.” pic.twitter.com/3Q69v8Eh5o

— Madrid Zone (@theMadridZone) November 24, 2024

Last night, in his first start in La Liga against Leganés, Asencio confirmed his full potential with a performance that has been described as a ‘masterclass’. Defensively solid and precise in his throws, he quickly won the confidence of his team-mates and the Casa Blanca fans.

As Real Madrid prepare to take on Liverpool in the Champions League on Wednesday, Mbappé will still be expected to spearhead the Merengues’ attack. With his automatisms becoming more refined, particularly with Vinícius Jr, and his positive frame of mind, the French striker looks set to shine on the European stage.