Despite mounting criticism in Spain, Real Madrid legend Ronaldo Nazário has complete faith in Kylian Mbappé. In his opinion, the French striker has everything it takes to shine for the Merengue, provided he is given enough time.
Having arrived this summer with high expectations, Kylian Mbappé is going through a difficult period at Real Madrid. While his statistics remain good (10 goals and 3 assists in 20 matches), the Frenchman is struggling to show his full potential. This has naturally led to impatience and criticism from the fans and the Spanish press.
But Ronaldo ‘R9’, one of the Casa Blanca’s legendary strikers, refuses to be over-hasty. In an interview with Marca, the Auriverde legend was keen to defend Mbappé.
‘In football, anything can happen. There can be good and bad surprises. You shouldn’t look too closely at the small details. Mbappé means a lot to Real Madrid and he will be very important. Real Madrid and Mbappé both still have a lot of credit to play for,’ he began.
Ronaldo Luis Nazario de Lima knows better than anyone what it means to be a star recruit at Real Madrid, with all the expectations and pressure that entails. Like Mbappé, he had to adapt to a new environment and face criticism. For the former No9, now in charge of Valladolid, the most important thing is to give the Frenchman time to settle in and establish himself at a club where the demands are constant.
Mbappé’s encouraging statistical record
While Kylian Mbappé’s play sometimes seems to be below his usual level, his statistics show that he is still decisive. With 10 goals and 3 assists in 20 matches, the Les Bleus captain has produced a respectable performance for his first season in a league as competitive as La Liga. For Ronaldo, this record is a sign that the best is yet to come. ‘It’s only a matter of time before he really explodes,’ added the former Ballon d’Or winner from Brazil.
As the pressure mounts on Kylian Mbappé, Ronaldo’s comments provide a more measured perspective. They are a reminder that even the greatest players need a period of adjustment. This was already the case for Thibaut Courtois when he arrived at Real Madrid from Chelsea. The giant Belgian goalkeeper has suffered the martyrdom of constant criticism after his disappointing start. Fans of the Casa Blanca club even preferred Keylor Navas to him, but Florentino Perez, who gambled on the best goalkeeper of the Russia 2018 World Cup, always had faith in him and it paid off in the end.
Courtois is now the best goalkeeper in the world, and without him, Real Madrid might not have won the 2022 Champions League. For Madrid fans, the message is clear when it comes to Kylian Mbappé: patience. With a talent like Mbappé’s and the support of a club like Real Madrid, great performances are only a matter of time.
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