Kylian Mbappe’s arrival at Real Madrid was a moment many fans had been eagerly anticipating. The French superstar joined the club from Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer, generating massive excitement among supporters and football pundits alike.
After years of speculation and interest, Real Madrid finally secured their long-term target, but the reality of his performances has not yet lived up to the high expectations.
From the outset, Mbappe’s transfer was never seen as a gamble. Real Madrid had pursued him for years, planning and strategising to make his signing a reality.
However, despite all the effort put into bringing him to the Santiago Bernabeu, questions have arisen about how well he fits into the team, particularly regarding his position on the pitch.
The main concern is his compatibility with Vinicius Jr., who has firmly established himself as the main left-winger at the club.
Mbappe and Vinicius are not synchronizing
One of the biggest challenges for Real Madrid has been getting Mbappe and Vinicius to work together effectively. Despite media reports suggesting the two are forming a formidable partnership, the reality on the pitch has been quite different.
In the recent match against Villarreal, the two shared the field for 70 minutes, and while their individual brilliance was evident, their combination as a duo was lacking.
Rather than working together to create dangerous chances, they appeared to operate more as individual stars, each trying to make something happen on their own.
The issue lies in their overlapping roles. Both Mbappe and Vinicius naturally gravitate towards the left wing, an area where each player prefers to operate. Above all, Ancelotti has deployed multiple formations this season so basically there is no fixed position.
This has led to a clash of influence, with both players often occupying the same spaces and getting in each other’s way. As a result, Real Madrid’s experiment of playing them together has not yet produced the desired outcome.
Despite their immense talent, the duo has not yet managed to complement each other effectively, leading to frustration on the pitch.
Vinicius thrived without Mbappe
Throughout the match against Villarreal, it was clear that although Mbappe and Vinicius have the skill to thrive individually, they struggled to link up in the static phases of play.
The only time they connected well was during quick transitions when the game opened up, allowing for fast, flowing football.
However, even in these moments, Mbappe’s impact was inconsistent, as he often seemed out of sync with the rest of the team.
The turning point in the game came when Mbappe was substituted for Rodrygo. Strangely, just minutes after Mbappe left the pitch, Vinicius produced a moment of magic.
Taking the ball near the edge of the box, he executed a brilliant solo run and fired a shot that doubled Madrid’s lead to 2-0.
The goal not only secured the victory but also highlighted an interesting observation – Vinicius seemed to perform with more freedom and confidence once Mbappe had left the field.
This incident has reignited the debate over whether both players can coexist in the same starting lineup without neutralising each other’s strengths.
A plan is required
As things stand, out of the 18 goal involvements (goals and assists) generated between Mbappe and Vinicius this season, only three have directly involved both players working together.
Vinicius has assisted Mbappe twice, while Mbappe has returned the favour once. These figures suggest that their partnership is still in its early stages and has a long way to go before becoming the formidable duo many had hoped for.
Real Madrid’s coaching staff will need to focus on developing a tactical plan that allows both players to thrive without stepping on each other’s toes.
If they can figure out how to balance the strengths of Mbappe and Vinicius, the club could unlock one of the most dangerous attacking pairings in world football.
However, until that happens, the question of whether they can truly play together effectively will continue to hang over the team.