Kylian Mbappe continued his goalless start to life in La Liga on Sunday, with another Real Madrid star shining instead during their 3-0 victory over Real Valladolid
Kylian Mbappe is already under the microscope from the Spanish media after failing to score in his first two La Liga matches for Real Madrid.
The French forward, who made a high-profile move from Paris Saint-Germain to Los Blancos on a free transfer this summer, is yet to announced himself at his new club. Mbappe, 25, made his home debut for the reigning Spanish and European champions on Sunday night.
A crowd of 85,000 had gathered at the Santiago Bernabeu, eagerly anticipating a win and Mbappe’s first goal of the season. Despite scoring on his full debut in the UEFA Super Cup, the pressure’s on for his first domestic goal.
However, his much-anticipated finish didn’t materialise, even though Real secured a 3-0 victory over Real Valladolid. Instead, fans were left disappointed by a lacklustre performance from a player tipped to be a future Ballon d’Or winner.
Mbappe found it difficult to operate in tight spaces and squandered both of his significant opportunities to score. To add insult to injury, his substitute – 18-year-old Brazilian prodigy Endrick – scored convincingly within minutes of entering the pitch.
For Mbappe, who netted 256 times in 308 appearances for PSG, going two games without a goal must feel like an eternity. It seems the press are also starting to scrutinise his underwhelming performances, with some even suggesting that his big night was eclipsed by Endrick.
Spanish media were unimpressed with Mbappe’s performance at the Bernabeu, with Marca reporting: “Mbappe tried, but couldn’t score at the Bernabeu. Endrick stole the show.” AS echoed: “It was Mbappe’s party, but Endrick stole the spotlight.”
Antena 3 Deportes described his debut as “poor and sloppy”. Adding to the criticism, a Cadena SER columnist remarked: “Players, whatever their name and status, must move.”
Ex-Real player and adviser Alvarao Benito expressed his impatience, stating: “Mbappe is not that player who makes the difference when he has the ball in front of him. Vinicius, Mbappe, Rodrigo… I don’t know, for me, there’s one too many.”
Mbappe was replaced by Endrick, who scored minutes later ( Image: Getty Images)
Despite the critiques, president Florentino Perez remains unfazed. The esteemed Los Blancos leader, with seven Champions League titles under his reign, is confident Mbappe will prove his worth in time.
After the game, Perez maintained tradition by greeting the players, sharing words of encouragement with Mbappe. He reportedly bolstered the megastar’s spirits by saying: “You’ll get it next time for sure. You were very close to scoring several times today.”