Kylian Mbappe has not had the start that many expected of him at Real Madrid when he arrived from PSG on a free transfer.
The 25-year-old has scored goals but has appeared out of sync with his new teammates and there are still some issues that manager Carlo Ancelotti needs to iron out for the Frenchman to be at his best.
Mbappe will come good, insists Rivaldo
As Mbappe prepares for his first-ever El Clasico this weekend, a former Barcelona player and icon, Rivaldo, has backed the 2018 FIFA World Cup winner to make history at Real Madrid.
“Sometimes it takes a while for him to adapt. But Kylian is a great player and I’m sure he’s going to make history at Madrid. He is very good and has already scored several goals,” said Rivaldo, as quoted by MARCA.
“He’s not yet the Mbappe that all the fans would like, but you have to bear in mind that we’re at the beginning and he’s just arrived. He will be a very important player and will go down in Madrid’s history.”
On Real Madrid’s dodgy form this season, the former Ballon d’Or winner added: “In some moments things don’t go well. La Liga has only just started and there is still a lot to play for. The important thing is not this moment, but the end.
“Madrid always reaches the final stretch fighting to be champion of everything. Ancelotti is a great coach who knows how to do things very well.”
Vinicius deserves Ballon d’Or
Moving on Rivaldo also picked his compatriot and Real Madrid superstar Vinicius Jr. as his favourite to win the Ballon d’Or this year, for everything he achieved with the club during last season.
“It’s always important when you perform like Vinicius has done. I’m sure he’s confident of winning the Ballon d’Or for everything he did in the Champions League and La Liga with Madrid, even if things didn’t go well for the national team,” said Rivaldo.
“For me, Vinicius is the favourite to win the Ballon d’Or.”
However, the former Brazil international went on to state that the 24-year-old forward needs to work on his attitude on the field and learn to control himself and avoid confrontations.
“It’s not a good attitude. Vinicius is an impressive player because he makes a difference at Madrid. But he is still very young and he can change. In fact, he should change those attitudes with referees and players,” said Rivaldo.
Continuing, he added: “He’s a footballer who gets kicked a lot, but that’s not good when he’s picking on opponents and talking to referees. But this attitude is going to change because Vinicius is intelligent.
“What happens is that he’s a kid and there are moments in a game when his head gets hot and he loses control.
“He has changed his football because when he arrived at Madrid nobody thought that one day he would be the best in the world. He learned to score goals, in Champions League finals, and this attitude of fighting with referees or rivals is going to change.”
Rivaldo also spoke about another young Brazilian at Real Madrid – Endrick, claiming that the 18-year-old striker can make it big.
“He is good. He has gone to a club that is always fighting to be champion where he will be able to play and score goals. He is young and has a great future.”