The narrative around Kylian Mbappe is rapidly turning around, even among the notoriously high standard Real Madrid faithful. Mbappe was Enemy No. 1 for many Madridistas after a terrible second half of the season in which fans accused him of pretending to be injured before the World Cup and criticized him more than that for is attitude, missed chances, selfish play, lack of all around quality, and for making the team worse (and PSG better by proxy of leaving).
But Mbappe has shown a different side to his game for the French national team, and while he always turns it up for Les Bleus, the captain is truly coming off as more of a leader and nurturing player. A standout example is that he hyped up Ousmane Dembele and gave him assists, feeding him the ball for his confidence on purpose to help the reigning Ballon d'Or winner shine again vs. Norway before the World Cup knockouts on the horizon.
There are a lot of legends of Real Madrid's past who are standing by Mbappe, and the latest is French icon Claude Makelele, who was such a larger than life presence in the defensive midfield that not only was the "Makelele role" named after him, but his departure led to Madrid sinking into an abyss - and the rise of Jose Mourinho's Chelsea into the Premier League's biggest juggernaut.
Claude Makelele defends Kylian Mbappe for the wrong reasons
Makelele does not understand the critics of Kylian Mbappe and specifically pointed to those upset about him coming in the midfield, arguing that Madrid do not have a player in midfield who can progress the ball and break the lines.
He said, via Madrid Xtra, "Kylian Mbappe criticism? I do not agree. He's a striker, he wants to score. At Real Madrid, there's no midfielder who carries the ball and breaks the lines. Mbappe often drops to midfield, who's going to be up front? When he's up front, he's scoring."
While Claude Makelele often makes a lot of great points, this is not one of them. There are quite a few Real Madrid players who could take umbrage with this statement, but both Jude Bellingham and Fede Valverde will feel blatantly disrespected by this comment from the former Madrid midfielder.
Because Bellingham and Valverde are two of the very best progressive midfielders on the planet. While Fede did not have a great World Cup under Marcelo Bielsa's dysfunction at Uruguay, Bellingham has been as brilliant as Mbappe this summer and is breaking lines like a toddler with a set of crayons. He is roasting people out there and did so plenty for Madrid, with everyone remembering his insane 2023/24 season. And even as a passer, he breaks the lines, along with Arda Guler.
So while defending Mbappe is in vogue and he is having a great World Cup, no doubt, he did not play great for Real Madrid this season. And throwing Fede Valverde and Jude Bellingham under the bus - two teammates he needs to get along with and respect after last season's events - is no the way to do it, nor appreciated by Madridistas.
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