Michel Platini believes Kylian Mbappe could offer more to Real Madrid if they gave him a creative role, rather than just using him as a goalscorer.
Mbappe has spent much of his career playing on the left of a forward three but his role at the Santiago Bernabéu is more central and he is now regarded as a number nine.
His record suggests it’s a position he is comfortable with – Mbappe has scored 82 goals in 92 games for Madrid since moving from Paris Saint-Germain in the summer of 2024.
But Platini, a three-time winner of the Ballon d’Or, still thinks the 27-year-old has more to his game.
He told the l’After Foot programme on RMC: “Kylian Mbappé took a big risk in going to Real Madrid but he has done very well.
“Kylian is much more of a finisher than the player he was at Monaco or at the beginning at Paris Saint-Germain.
“He is up top, he is a centre forward and they ask him to finish the moves. I think he was a little more creative [at Monaco and PSG], he had a slightly more important dimension than today. Today he is completely a finisher.”
I love Mbappe – Platini
He added: “He scores a lot of goals, maybe Real Madrid asks him to score goals, but when he played on the wing he had more scope, more runs and more crosses.
“I love Kylian Mbappé as a footballer. No problem, he’s a remarkable player.”
Mbappe is currently sidelined with a knee injury and will miss tomorrow night’s Champions League round-of-16, first leg against Manchester City in the Spanish capital.
Madrid are hoping he can play some part in the Liga game with Elche at the weekend with a view to being fit for next week’s second leg at the Etihad.
