Mbappe or Kane? Real Madrid at war over Benzema replacement

Stuart Telford

• 9 Jun 2023 15:25 BST
• 3 min read

There is unrest at Real Madrid with Florentino Perez and Carlo Ancelotti in disagreement about whether to sign Kylian Mbappe or Harry Kane to replace Karim Benzema.

Benzema has left Real Madrid for Al-Ittihad in Saudi Arabia, signing a contract worth €200 million a year to join Cristiano Ronaldo in the Saudi Pro League.

The reigning Ballon d'Or winner scored 354 goals in 648 games for Real after joining from Lyon as a 21-year-old in 2009, and hit 19 in 24 in La Liga last season - suffice to say he has left a hole at the point of los Blancos' attack.

READ: Real Madrid ready 'sexy Plan B' for Benzema replacement

Brazilian prodigy Endrick will join in a €72m deal from Palmeiras in the summer of 2024 once he has turned 18, but that means a season of using Joselu - initially intended for a back-up role - at No.9 or playing Rodrygo out of position, unless Real go shopping.

Mbappe remains Perez's top transfer target now that Jude Bellingham has been acquired for a potential €130m from Borussia Dortmund, but the Frenchman is out of contract next summer, and the president is loath to dig so deep into the club's coffers for a second time.

Perez wants to wait for Mbappe

"[Perez] wants to save money and go after Mbappe in six months, who would receive a bonus arriving on a free transfer. But this plan to wait has troubled Ancelotti," report Relevo. "The Italian's position is to strengthen the squad for next season with his own contract ending in 2024."

READ: Real Madrid: Mbappe delivers personal message to Perez

To that end, Ancelotti reportedly wants the club to sign Kane now. Manchester United have been frontrunners for the England captain but it is understood Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy would be happier to facilitate a move abroad rather than to a Premier League rival.

Kane, like Mbappe, is out of contract next summer, but he is five years the PSG man's senior, and the feeling is that now is the time for him to leave Spurs if he and his next employers are to get the most out of a transfer.

He is also a closer tactical fit to Madrid than might be Mbappe. Kane is a maker and taker at the point of the attack, like Benzema, whereas Mbappe's preference is to play on the left of the attack, where Real are well-stocked in Vinicius Junior.