Real Madrid News
Real Madrid forward reacts to Kylian Mbappe links: “I hope he comes”
Real Madrid forward Rodrygo has said that he hopes Paris Saint-Germain forward Kylian Mbappe joins him at the club, adding that his inclusion will help them a lot.
Mbappe’s situation with the Ligue 1 champions has taken an interesting turn. His ongoing contract runs out in 2024 and while PSG want him to sign an extension, he wants to see out the deal and leave for free next year.
Mbappe’s exit on a free transfer will cause PSG a lot of trouble as this will force the French team to sell a few players from the current roster so that they can comply with the Financial Fair Play guidelines.
Mbappe’s exit from the French capital, be it this summer or next, is directly connected with Real Madrid as they are seen as the favourites to sign the 24-year-old superstar.
Speaking on the subject, Rodrygo was quoted by MARCA as saying: “Mbappé? At Real Madrid it’s very complicated, there are always rumours, and this year there were rumours about Harry Kane.
“When I arrived in Madrid there was a lot of talk about [Paul] Pogba coming, so I don’t have any information.
“I don’t have any information, we have to wait and see. Of course, I hope Mbappe comes because he will help us a lot. He is a real star, but we really don’t know anything.”
Mbappe and PSG are set to intensify talks over his future and hope to resolve the situation soon. Real Madrid are happy to be patient as they believe that the longer the saga continues the lesser they would have to pay for the Frenchman.
During the interview, Rodrygo also shared an old story related to former Real Madrid left-back Marcelo, saying that the Brazilian, who has been playing for Fluminense for four months, was simply extraordinary.
“It’s nice to see Marcelo play. It’s one of the most impressive things I’ve seen. His quality is out of this world. When I arrived at Real Madrid he impressed me. When Camavinga arrived we used to do rondos and every day Marcelo would dink over him,” he explained.
Real Madrid produced a remarkable late comeback to defeat AS Roma 4-3 in the Champions League, scoring three times in the final 10 minutes after falling 3-1 behind.
Carlos Espi, Endrick and Antonio Rudiger completed the turnaround, leaving the visitors celebrating a dramatic victory on matchday two.
For young forward Carlos Espi, the result was particularly memorable.
The substitute made his opportunity count with a crucial goal, while captain Federico Valverde praised the determination shown by Madrid’s replacements and explained how the team eventually found a way back into the contest.
Carlos Espi makes his opportunity count for Real Madrid
Espi was delighted to contribute after coming off the bench, making it clear that his priority is to take advantage of every opportunity Jose Mourinho gives him.
“I’ve come here to make the most of my playing time; I had the chance to come on and I made the most of it by scoring a goal,” he began saying.
The forward struggled to find words to describe the dramatic nature of the contest, with Madrid needing a late surge to overturn a two-goal deficit.
“Absolute madness. We went all out for the win together and I’m really happy. We were determined to win the match and not give up.
“That’s what it was all about. As the minutes ticked by, we could see it getting closer, and that’s exactly how it turned out,” he said.
Espi also revealed Mourinho’s instructions before he entered the game, explaining that the manager wanted him to bring energy and help Madrid find a way back.
“To go out there, to give my all – there were 10 or 15 minutes left – to help the team in any way I could and always give my absolute best.”
Valverde explains how Madrid turned the match around
Furthermore, Valverde admitted that Madrid had struggled to implement their plans during the first half.
However, the captain felt the team gradually began to apply their training-ground work once they found themselves trailing.
“The first half was evenly matched. Neither did they create many chances nor were we able to play the game as we’d planned. We’d worked on a lot of things but couldn’t put them into practice.
“Then, with a fighting spirit, whilst trailing, we started to do what we’d practised. Movement through the middle, creating more space, and finding one-on-one situations,” he said.
Despite the comeback, the midfielder acknowledged that Madrid had made life unnecessarily difficult for themselves.
“As a player, I’m proud that the team showed fighting spirit, but I think that if we’d done the job earlier, it would have been a less complicated match.
“We would have enjoyed it more. It became an uphill struggle for us because of our own mistakes,” he noted.
Valverde praises Endrick and Madrid’s substitutes
Valverde was particularly pleased with the contribution of the players who came off the bench, highlighting their determination and the collective mentality behind the comeback.
“I’d like to congratulate the substitutes; they came on with incredible determination, which shows that we’re all fully focused,” said the Real Madrid captain.
Endrick also earned special praise from the midfielder, having played an important role in the late turnaround and helped create Espi’s goal.
“I’m delighted for him. The manager had said a few days ago that he needed all the players, and that he was congratulating those who’d had fewer minutes on the pitch. Every player gives their all.”
Lastly, Valverde also addressed his own versatility after switching from midfield to full-back once again, stressing that contributing to the team matters more than his position.
“The important thing is to win, as the manager said; if things go well, we have to keep going. I’m happy to keep getting plenty of playing time.
“I enjoy playing for this club, and I had plenty of space to run in. I’m grateful that the manager continues to put his trust in me,” he concluded.
Source: Mundo Deportivo
