Mbappe and three Real Madrid teammates ‘UNDER SUSPICION’

Robin Bairner

• 18 Nov 2024 14:00 GMT
• 3 min read

Kylian Mbappe finds himself under fire once again, with the Real Madrid attacker’s role at his new club already up for debate.

Mbappe and three French colleagues at the Bernabeu are said to be “under suspicion” at Real Madrid due to poor performances early in the season.

He may only have joined the club in July, but there have been concerns over his form since he hooked up with his new side. Now, however, there are claims in Spain that Mbappe is little more than an “extra” at the club, while Aurelien Tchouameni and Ferland Mendy are not spared criticism.

“Mbappe has gone from being a leader on the pitch to competing with players who don’t give anything away, particularly Vinicius Jr, who is denying him the position he feels most comfortable in,” Sport claims.

STATS

Kylian Mbappé

F (C)

Real Madrid

Kylian Mbappé

F (C)

Real Madrid

La Liga

2024/25

• 11

  Games

• 6

  Goals

• 1

  Assists

View all stats

Mbappe, though, is just one member of what is dubbed ‘the French fleet’ who are criticised at the Bernabeu.

“The French armada of the Madrid team is under suspicion,” Sport claims.

“Tchouameni doesn’t fit into the team’s style of play… He lacks the intuition to act as his teammates’ bodyguard. Added to this is his difficulty in moving the ball: he is slow and predictable in his passing.

“Mendy is not offering the guarantee of being watertight on his flank either. Without the help of Toni Kroos further forward, they are suffering more than expected to, above all, get the ball out.”

Eduardo Camavinga is the only Frenchman at Madrid to be given a reprieve.

Gearing up for Leganes

Real Madrid will hope that the quartet’s limited involved in the Nations League will have them back in form by the time they face Leganes next weekend.

Mbappe was controversially left out of the squad – Didier Deschamps refused to confirm why – while Tchouameni was omitted because of a minor injury and Mendy only has 10 France caps.

Camavinga, meanwhile, was suspended for Sunday’s clash with Italy, having been booked against Israel and returned early to Madrid.