Former France international Emmanuel Petit has claimed that Carlo Ancelotti and several Real Madrid players were against signing Kylian Mbappe this summer. Despite his high-profile arrival from Paris Saint-Germain, the World Cup winner has reportedly disrupted the balance in a squad that had just celebrated La Liga and Champions League triumphs.
Since joining Madrid, Mbappe has struggled to find his footing, managing only eight goals in 16 appearances. Reports suggest the 25-year-old prefers playing on the left wing—a spot occupied by Vinicius Jr.—and Ancelotti appears reluctant to disrupt the team dynamic to accommodate the Frenchman.
Petit, speaking to Casino Hawks, alleged that Florentino Perez, Real Madrid’s president, pushed for Mbappe’s signing against the wishes of Ancelotti and key players.
Ancelotti was on top of the world after winning major trophies and likely wanted minor additions to his squad, not a massive shake-up
Petit explained.
He also pointed to the challenges of managing multiple star egos, with Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Jr. both vying for individual accolades like the Ballon d’Or. According to Petit, Mbappe must demonstrate mental toughness akin to legends Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo if he hopes to thrive at Madrid.
Real Madrid fans are now watching closely as the club prepares to face Leganes this weekend. Currently six points behind La Liga leaders Barcelona, the pressure is on both Mbappe and the team to deliver results amidst swirling rumors of unrest.
