Ancelotti makes BOLD Mbappe claim after Haaland snub

Cameron Smith

19 Jan 2025 14:00 CST
3 min read

Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappe, Real Madrid — © IMAGO

Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti has claimed that Kylian Mbappe is “the best centre forward in the world” following his brace against Las Palmas.

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The France international scored twice during Los Blancos’ 4-1 win on Sunday afternoon as they leapfrogged Atletico Madrid to claim top spot in La Liga.

Mbappe endured a slow start to life at the Santiago Bernabeu, after his free transfer arrival from Paris Saint-Germain, but he has now registered 16 goals in 29 appearances for the club.

Following his performance versus Las Palmas, Ancelotti told reporters (via Managing Madrid): “He [Mbappe] is the best centre forward in the world.

“There were doubts about whether he could play there or whether he would be better on the left. He is a great striker, he is very good in the centre, more so than on the wing, his running is unique and he can take better advantage of it inside.”

Erling Haaland snubs Real Madrid to sign new Man City contract

Ancelotti’s comments about Mbappe come following news of Erling Haaland’s eye-watering new contract at Man City.

The 24-year-old is widely considered to be the world’s best striker and he has been heavily linked with a move to Real Madrid over the past few years.

In fact, the Norway international was even touted as a possible signing this year following Mbappe’s poor run of form across October and November.

However, Haaland has now snubbed the chance to join Real Madrid by signing a lucrative new Man City contract.

Current ETV

Erling Haaland

F (C)

Man City

Erling Haaland

F (C)

Man City

ETV Range

€112.4M - €187.3M

He has penned a nine-and-a-half year deal at the Etihad Stadium, with The Guardian reporting he will earn a basic salary of around £500,000 per week.

Haaland has scored 111 goals in 126 games since joining Man City from Borussia Dortmund in 2022 and he has won the Premier League Golden Boot in both of his two full seasons in England.