Real Madrid News
Kylian Mbappe opens up on his relationship with Cristiano Ronaldo: ‘He is a friend now’
Real Madrid’s poor season has well and truly kicked off an internal meltdown, and Florentino Perez’s press conference last night appears to be the latest result of the same domino effect.
At this point, fingers are being pointed at all parties involved, including the president, the board, the manager and the players themselves.
Among the players too, the spotlight shines brighter on the leaders of the dressing room and Kylian Mbappe is one of the players who is being targeted as the problem.
Mbappe speaks on his idol
Speaking to Vanity Fair in a recent interview, the under-fire Real Madrid star was asked about his idol Cristiano Ronaldo and the advice that he has received from the club legend.
He began by explaining how he was close to Ronaldo now and in contact with the Portuguese legend.
“He is a friend now. It’s so great when people you idolise when you’re young become your friends.”
“We used to talk a lot, and he helped me in my first year at Madrid, because he knows it very well,” he added.
Concluding on his relationship with the legend and how it made him feel to be so close to a childhood idol, Mbappe said,
“We have a wonderful relationship and I’m very happy with it.”
While Mbappe may indeed be racking up Ronaldo-level numbers for Real Madrid in terms of goals, he is seemingly not impacting the team in the same way as the Portuguese legend did.
Instead of improving and playing better as a unit with Mbappe on the field, Real Madrid’s dynamism and work rate suffer, leading to the team playing in a more rigid, less flexible manner.
There is, thus, a long way to go before Mbappe’s Real Madrid can feature on the same page as Ronaldo’s Real Madrid, irrespective of the individual goalscoring numbers.
Real Madrid News
Carlos Espi reacts after scoring match-winning goal in Elche 2-3 Real Madrid: ‘Starting like this is a dream’
Carlos Espi is becoming Real Madrid’s unlikely late-game specialist.
The 21-year-old once again came off the bench to rescue Jose Mourinho’s side, this time scoring the 91st-minute winner in a dramatic 3-2 victory over Elche.
It was his second goal for the club, and both have arrived at crucial moments.
Speaking to Real Madrid TV after the match, Espi could barely contain his excitement.
“I’m so happy—the happiest man in the world. I try to help the team any way I can, and every time I step onto the field, I give it my all and come away feeling great.
“Starting like this has been a dream. This isn’t over yet; we’re going to keep going because we have Sunday’s match coming up.
Carlos Espi winning goal in Elche vs Real Madrid game. Mbappe assist. pic.twitter.com/STJBV3ikQL
— Daily Foot Vibes (@dailyfootvibes) September 16, 2026
“This is a team effort. All of us who take the field make the most of our opportunities and give it our all,” he began.
Espi keeps making his minutes count
There is a growing pattern to Espi’s involvement. Even though he has yet to start a match for the first team, that has not stopped him from making an impact.
His first goal arrived against Espanyol in Real Madrid’s opening game, when another late strike helped secure the result.
Against Elche, he was required again after Real Madrid surrendered a two-goal lead and suddenly found themselves in serious trouble.
Espi eventually appeared at the back post in the 91st minute and finished the move to give Mourinho’s team all three points.
The youngster shared the credit with his teammates, but he also had special praise for the player who supplied his decisive moment.
That assist came from Kylian Mbappe, whose presence has made Espi’s route into the starting XI particularly difficult.
“It’s unbelievable—it’s crazy to watch him train and play. In this case, he set me up for the goal, and I’m very happy for him, too.”
First Madrid derby already has Espi excited
The timing of Espi’s latest contribution could hardly be more interesting, as Real Madrid now face Atletico Madrid on Sunday, giving the forward an opportunity to experience his first Madrid derby.
“I’m really looking forward to it—I’m so excited. It’s my first derby here, and we’re going to go for it.”
For Mourinho, Espi is a useful option when matches become chaotic. He may not yet be a regular starter, but his two appearances on the scoresheet have carried considerably more weight than the minutes he has played.
