Many Real Madrid fans are starting to wonder whether signing Kylian Mbappe was a mistake. The Frenchman was brought in in the summer as a free agent after his contract at PSG ran out. Arguably the best player in the world joining the reigning European and Spanish champions for nothing, what could possibly go wrong?
Well, so far, a lot has. Real Madrid's side seem to have lost their balance as a result of having to integrate Mbappe into and tweaking a system that had worked so well last season.
Real Madrid had looked impossible to beat last season. Now, they look fragile at the back and not particularly impressive going forward despite having big names.
Mbappe himself has not been great. Jude Bellingham has not even scored a single goal this season. And Rodrygo has been in and out of the team.
Real Madrid player unhappy after Kylian Mbappe's arrival
As reported by SPORT, one who is not happy is Rodrygo. The arrival of Mbappe has affected the work he did for four years to be a starter.
For many years, Rodrygo had played the role of an impact substitute for Real Madrid. It was only last season that he truly established himself as a regular starter for the club. But now, that spot is up in the air.
Rodrygo has started about half the games this season, probably around 60 percent of them. And it is not hard to understand why he might not be happy with the situation.
The Brazilian international might, and should, feel that he had earned his place as a starter at Real Madrid. He played an integral role in two Champions League-winning campaigns. Yet, with the arrival of Mbappe, it looks like he is someone who is being considered as a candidate to be left on the bench.