Kylian Mbappe was on the scoresheet for Real Madrid in his competitive debut for the club, but the French media were not impressed with his performance against Atalanta
Mbappe received harsh criticism despite his successful Real Madrid debut (Image: (Image: Getty))
Kylian Mbappe’s Real Madrid debut may have seen him score and lift a UEFA Super Cup, but French critics were less than impressed by him.
Scoring in Wednesday’s UEFA Super Cup final at the National Stadium Warsaw won’t shield Mbappe from French media critique – some naming him ‘slow and lazy’ despite Real Madrid securing a maiden 2024/25 trophy under coach Carlo Ancelotti. It was Federico Valverde who broke the ice in the 59th minute with a tap-in, thanks to Vinicius Junior’s superb handling of Atalanta’s packed defence.
Shortly after, on the 68th-minute mark, Mbappe capitalized on a pass from Jude Bellingham, drilling the ball into the top right corner and doubling the lead for Los Blancos. Reports from France were harsh post-match, with a RMC Decouverte journalist complaining: “Mbappe has been in line with what he has done in recent games with France, quite slow and lazy, with the difficulties he has playing as a number nine.”
Another chimed in during the evening talk show: “He had good will, he tried to move in the attacking front. Although he was less inspired, he scored his first goal that will go down in history with Real Madrid.” Adding to the critiquing voices, a Canal+ France journalist said: “I saw him not being able to connect with his teammates and he has to find those connections.
“He has to make more movements and they will come.” They added: “It is a good goal because of the connection with his teammates. He has not been brilliant, but he has scored in his first game, so he is relieved. Once again, for an attacker the most important thing is to score.”
L’Equipe TV meanwhile complained: “Mbappe scored a good goal and it is a dream to play for Madrid. The coach puts you in at the first opportunity and you score. It is more important to score in the first game because of the media, rather than having a good game, because Mbappe didn’t play a good game.”
Mbappe has received negative press in France despite bagging a goal in his Galacticos debut ( Image:
(Image: Getty))
Spanish press, however, showered Mbappe with praise for his performance. Football expert Frederic Hermel argued: “He is very intelligent, he knows what he has to do. He knows that Real is a much bigger club than him, and that was not necessarily the case when he was in his previous clubs, he understood that the institution is bigger than all the players.”
Mbappe himself, reflecting on the match to Canal+, added: “I imagined it in many ways (the evening) but starting with a title… Just playing for this club, everyone knows what that means to me. It’s incredible, the atmosphere was magical. When you say Real Madrid, you say titles, it’s very important.”