Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappe addressed the criticism surrounding him and Vinicius Junior.
Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior have been the faces of Real Madrid’s 2024-25 season—a campaign that began with high expectations but was initially marked by growing pains. As the duo worked to build chemistry on the pitch, criticism followed. Now, Mbappe is addressing both the scrutiny and his relationship with the Brazilian star.
After joining from Paris Saint-Germain, Mbappe faced a significant adjustment period at Madrid. He entered a squad undergoing a rebuild following Toni Kroos’ retirement and one hit hard by injuries. While many expected him and Vinicius to form an unstoppable partnership, it took time for their connection to click.
Rumors of tension between the two stars added fuel to the fire. But in his first in-depth interview as a Real Madrid player, Mbappe shut down the speculation during a conversation with La Sexta.
“The relationship is very good. I think it’s normal for people to want to talk about us because we’re two famous players who can make a difference. But I always came to Madrid with the idea of playing with Vini. I can’t imagine Real Madrid without Vini. I always had the idea of playing with him and with the others, and we play well together,” Mbappe said to Ana Pastor.
Mbappe also acknowledged the high expectations from fans and the media: “The truth is that it could be better. The truth is, people always expect more from us, and that’s normal. But I think we play well together, and now we’re in the decisive part of the season, so we’re going to try to help Madrid as much as we can.”
Though Mbappe arrived as one of the best players in the world—a World Cup champion and runner-up—his early months in La Liga weren’t as dominant as many expected. However, now fully adapted to the team and its style, he’s emerged as one of the league’s top goal-scorers.
Solving the positioning dilemma
At the start of the season, manager Carlo Ancelotti faced tough questions about how to accommodate two stars who prefer the same position—left wing. To avoid overlap, Mbappe was often deployed as a central striker, where he initially struggled to make an impact.
But heading into the final stretch of the season, Ancelotti appears to have found the solution: positional freedom. A perfect example came during Real Madrid’s clash with Manchester City at the Santiago Bernabeu. On a counterattack, Vinicius switched flanks, connected with Rodrygo in the middle, and found Mbappe drifting to the left to score.
With increased fluidity in their roles, the early-season drama over positioning seems to be behind them. As the chemistry builds, so does the confidence that Real Madrid’s superstar duo can deliver when it matters most.
