Kylian Mbappe can “follow the path of Cristiano Ronaldo at Real Madrid” if he works harder, according to former France defender and World Cup winner Vincent Candela.
The former Paris Saint-Germain striker has had a tough start to life at Los Blancos since making the move as a free agent.
Despite scoring eight goals in 16 games in all competitions, Mbappe has yet to really catch fire at the Santiago Bernabeu, where his performances have been widely criticized.
The French forward has performed 2.04 below expected goals (xG) for his season, while he has been left out of Les Bleus' squad for recent Nations League matches after failing to find the net in his last four appearances find.
Mbappe is averaging a goal every 166 minutes in all competitions this season, compared to one goal every 88 minutes in his final season at PSG. He was left offside eight times during the humiliating 4-0 defeat to Barcelona in October.
Candela, who was part of the France squad that won the 1998 World Cup, says Mbappe needs to improve his game in the Spanish capital.
However, the 51-year-old is confident his compatriot will do just that and, if he does, could potentially emulate a Madrid icon who became the club's top scorer and won four Champions League titles during his brilliant spell.
“He has to work harder in Spain. He can still grow and become a stronger player,” Candela said in an interview with RB Sports, via Diario Sport.
“At Real Madrid, Mbappé is, among other things, a player, while at PSG he was an icon.
“I hope Mbappé can follow Cristiano Ronaldo's path at Real Madrid, but it is still too early to compare them. First he has to win the Champions League, as the Portuguese has done several times.”
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— Real Madrid CF (@realmadriden) November 20, 2024
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