Real Madrid: 3 possible starting XIs including Kylian Mbappe

Real Madrid lineup with Kylian Mbappe at striker

Real Madrid are so enamored with Kylian Mbappe for a number of reasons, but the primary reason is the benefit they’d get from having a primary goal-scorer who can bang home 30+ in a season. Karim Benzema has never been that player and is only getting older. As for Luka Jovic, he could be that player. However, Real are at their best when they have a high-scoring wide forward, as Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale fulfilled these duties for years.

That’s why Real Madrid probably want to sign Mbappe as a wide forward. However, if Jovic doesn’t work out and the club can’t sign Erling Haaland, Mbappe could be a natural fit as the starting striker.

Eden Hazard – Kylian Mbappe – Rodrygo Goes

Toni Kroos – Casemiro – Martin Odegaard

Ferland Mendy – Sergio Ramos – Raphael Varane – Achraf Hakimi

This would be a very attacking-focused starting XI with Rodrygo Goes, Martin Odegaard, and Achraf Hakimi starting on the right side. But with Mbappe in the middle, the goal will be to provide as many goal-scoring opportunities as possible for Mbappe. Kroos can provide the deeper passes, Odegaard the chance creation in the final third, and Hakimi the width.

Hakimi, Odegaard, and Rodrygo are all hard-working players defensively, so there shouldn’t be many issues to exploit. This XI could be one of Europe’s most devastating offensively, especially if Rodrygo blossoms into a superstar by then.