Real Madrid will play their first official game of the 2024/25 season in less than ten days when they take on Atalanta in the UEFA Super Cup clash.
Leading up to that encounter, preparations are in full swing in the pre-season even though Los Blancos have lost both their friendlies against AC Milan and Barcelona so far.
Carlo Ancelotti has some major decisions to make heading into the new season – the team’s best formation to get the best out of marquee signing Kylian Mbappe without compromising other players, identifying his best XI, and finalising the set-piece takers, among others.
Penalty-taker decided
Amidst all this, MARCA reports that Real Madrid have already made a decision as to who is going to be their primary penalty-taker will be in the new season.
Kylian Mbappe, for almost his entire stint at PSG, had been their primary option for penalties and is the first choice for the spot kicks with the French national team as well.
However, according to MARCA, the 25-year-old will have to make do with being the second choice at Real Madrid as Vinicius Jr. is set to be the primary penalty-taker for the club.
The Brazilian had been installed as the preferred option last season following the departure of Karim Benzema and is set to continue in his duties as the first-choice penalty taker.
Vinicius took three penalties for Real Madrid during the 2023/24 season when fit and available and scored all three of them.
The Brazilian has been seen working on his penalties during the pre-season camp in the USA in the past few days as he hopes to continue his success rate.
As for Mbappe, he will be anointed the primary free-kick taker, an area that has been a slight concern for Real Madrid in the recent past.