Mbappe not being number 9 is the problem – Benzema

Former Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema has expressed that Kylian Mbappe will need to adapt to a central striker role at Real Madrid, as he faces stiff competition from Vinicius Junior for the left-wing position.

Mbappe, who joined Real Madrid this summer after leaving Paris Saint-Germain, has yet to find his stride under head coach Carlo Ancelotti.

Ancelotti has kept Vinicius in his preferred left-wing position, where the Brazilian has excelled, pushing Mbappe to play as a center-forward a role he is less accustomed to but one Benzema believes he must embrace.

According to Benzema, Mbappe’s versatility could be key to his success at Madrid, provided he adjusts to the tactical setup and maximizes his central role.

Despite his slower start at the club, Madrid fans remain optimistic that the French forward will settle into his new position and eventually form a formidable partnership with Vinicius.

“The problem, in my opinion, is that (Mbappe) is not a central striker, even with the national team, every time he plays as a number nine he doesn’t feel right, because that’s not his position,” Benzema told Spanish television show El Chiringuito late Monday.

“On the left, he’s got a guy who’s at the same level as him, Vinicius, so there is a problem, you can’t play Vinicius as a number nine or on the right, because when he plays on the left he makes the difference in every game.

“Mbappe isn’t a real number nine. People ask a lot of him and he’s under a lot of pressure, this isn’t Paris Saint-Germain.”

Since arriving from PSG the 25-year-old has eight goals in 14 appearances across all competitions.

Benzema, who won the Ballon d’Or at Real Madrid in 2022 before signing for Saudi Arabian side Al-Ittihad last year, said the striker should keep working hard to adapt to his new role.

“(I’d advise him) don’t give up, because I don’t think he’s going to push Vinicius to move — he’s the best player in the world at the moment,” continued Benzema.

“Mbappe needs to get it into his head that today he’s a number nine, and forget about the left flank for a while.”

Benzema, who joined Real Madrid in 2009 and played there for 14 seasons, warned Mbappe that “if you go two or three games without a goal, you’re going to have a lot of problems.”

Real Madrid face AC Milan in the Champions League on Tuesday.