Former Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema says Kylian Mbappe must learn to play as a central striker at the Bernabeu because he will not be able to displace Vinicius Junior on the left wing, Afrosport reports.
France captain Mbappe, who joined Real Madrid after his Paris St-Germain contract expired in July, has scored eight goals in 14 appearances for Los Blancos, but has netted just once in his past five games.
The 25-year-old World Cup winner with France, favours playing on the left wing, but manager Carlo Ancelotti has kept Brazil international Vinicius in that position, forcing Mbappe to play in the middle.
Benzema in an interview on Spanish television show El Chiringuito said: “The problem, in my opinion, is that Mbappe is not a central striker, even with the national team, every time he plays as a number nine he doesn’t feel right, because that’s not his position.
“On the left, he’s got a guy who’s at the same level as him, Vinicius, so there is a problem, you can’t play Vinicius as a number nine or on the right, because when he plays on the left he makes the difference in every game.
“Mbappe isn’t a real number nine. People ask a lot of him and he’s under a lot of pressure, this isn’t Paris St-Germain.”
Benzema won the Ballon d’Or in 2022 and five Champions Leagues, as well as four La Liga titles during 14 seasons at the Bernabeu.
