Mbappe’s highly anticipated La Liga bow for Real Madrid ended in disappointment as the French star struggled to make an impact in the draw with RCD Mallorca.
The match, which marked the start of the 2024-25 La Liga season for Los Blancos, saw Mbappe largely isolated and unable to forge the connections needed with his new teammates.
Despite showing flashes of brilliance on the left wing, where he made several promising runs, the 25-year-old was unable to deliver the decisive moments he’s known for.
This was only Mbappe’s second appearance for Real Madrid, having previously scored in the Super Cup victory over Atalanta.
However, against Mallorca, he seemed out of sync with the rest of the squad, highlighting the ongoing need for chemistry and cohesion within the team.
After the match, Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti did not shy away from addressing his concerns.
Ancelotti pointed to a lack of balance in the team’s performance, stating, “We lacked balance. I am not happy with the draw because we could have done better. We need more attitude. We can learn a lot from this game because it seems clear where we could have a problem.”
Mbappe, widely regarded as one of the world’s best forwards, was expected to hit the ground running following his move from Paris Saint-Germain, where he scored 256 goals in 308 appearances.
His move to Real Madrid was seen as a major step in his career, but this debut suggests that both he and the team have some adjustments to make as they aim for domestic and European success.