Real Madrid News
Real Madrid starlet looking to redeem himself vs Manchester City
Franco Mastantuono’s adaptation to Real Madrid has been anything but the smooth sailing he expected.
Having arrived as the most expensive transfer in the history of Argentine football, there was a real sense of expectation from his fans despite his young age. After all, Los Blancos swooped him from the doorstep of PSG and saw him as one of world football’s brightest talents.
He started well under Xabi Alonso and gradually fell off, and Alvaro Arbeloa, after giving him opportunities early in his stint, has not counted much on him either despite the team’s injury crisis.
Looking for redemption
As confirmed by AS in a recent report, things are not going as Mastantuono and Real Madrid hoped for and the player is looking for redemption.
If his fitness and sporting struggles were not enough, he was shown a red card and suspended for two games during Real Madrid’s defeat to Getafe which forced him to miss the Celta Vigo game and also expels him from facing Elche.
The upcoming UEFA Champions League games against Manchester City, thus, present him with his best immediate shot at making a good impression and turning his situation around.
Rodrygo and Kylian Mbappe are both doubts for the fixture with the latter only having a small chance to make it in time for the second leg.
Given how Gonzalo Garcia and Brahim Diaz have also been unconvincing, there is a good chance for Mastantuono to have some role.
The youngster needs a good performance, now more than ever, to ask for a regular role from the manager. He will likely start on the bench, but he must make the most of any chance he is handed.
Real Madrid News
Mbappe hits out at claims on his unhappiness at Real Madrid: ‘Angry at my great aunt too’
Kylian Mbappe has been in the news for a plethora of reasons in recent weeks, starting with his injury and surprise vacation. Beyond that, the Ballon d’Or saga has kept him in the spotlight for a reasonable while now.
The Frenchman, after all, has not held back in speaking out about why he deserves to win the prestigious individual award, and while it is perfectly okay to campaign for the award, it is something that has not usually been done in the past.
In terms of his goalscoring numbers, there is no doubt that Mbappe should be a frontrunner for the award. His lack of a single trophy for both club and country, however, works against his chances.
Mbappe’s sarcastic reply to baseless rumours
Earlier today, there were reports of Kylian Mbappe being angry with Zinedine Zidane and Real Madrid for not campaigning for him to win the Ballon d’Or this year.
The rumours, needless to say, portrayed the player in a very bad light and made it seem like the club not making public gestures to acknowledge and back his campaign affected him personally.
Now, the player has himself come out to lash out at the journalists, albeit in a sarcastic manner. Commenting directly below the post making the claim via Fabrizio Romano, the player wrote,
“Yes, yes, I even got angry with my great aunt too.”
Mbappe’s ability to deal with such reports with a tinge of humour, needless to say, is impressive and it can only be good for his image that he spoke out and cut off the news at its roots.
Set to return
There has been significant concern around Mbappe’s fitness in recent weeks after the player left the French national team with an injury after their first game.
The initial diagnosis appeared worrying, but it soon came to light that the player had avoided a major setback by a hair’s breadth.
Now, there is increasing hope that the Frenchman will be back for Real Madrid’s first game after the break against Villarreal, possibly even as a starter.
Needless to say, that comes as a massive positive for Jose Mourinho’s plans ahead of a crucial stretch of the season.
