Former Real Madrid midfielder Casemiro has backed Kylian Mbappe to become a prolific goalscorer at the Santiago Bernabeu, predicting the French striker could net 40 goals per season despite his challenging start with Los Blancos.
Mbappe, who joined Real Madrid as a free agent this summer after his Paris Saint-Germain contract expired, has already found his rhythm with the Spanish giants, notching 23 goals this season to lead the team's scoring charts.
Speaking to AS, Casemiro, now at Manchester United, expressed confidence in Mbappe's ability to overcome his initial adaptation period. "It has been difficult for Mbappe? Yes, but he is already established and will give you 40 goals a year," the Brazilian midfielder stated. He also highlighted how the club's environment helps young players develop, noting that veterans guide newcomers through their transition period.
Casemiro particularly emphasized Mbappe's extraordinary talent, recalling their first encounter in the Champions League at the Parc des Princes. "Mbappe is an unstoppable player," he declared. "He did everything to us. We lost 1-0 with a goal from him, but it was crazy. He's the kind of player who will go down in football history."
The Brazilian midfielder praised Mbappe's consistency and adaptability, noting that the French star maintains a high performance level even when playing out of his preferred position. "We can't ask him to always score a 9. But he never goes below 7.5 or 8. He's spoiled us," Casemiro explained, adding that credit should go to manager Carlo Ancelotti for successfully deploying Mbappe in a different role to accommodate Vinicius Jr. on the left wing.
As Real Madrid prepare to face Manchester City in the Champions League playoffs' second leg, Casemiro revealed his continued allegiance to his former club, stating, "Even if it hadn't been against City, I'll always want Madrid to win. Unless we meet one day, of course..."
The endorsement from a Real Madrid legend like Casemiro, who sees Mbappe as the heir to Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, and Neymar, adds weight to expectations surrounding the French superstar's potential impact at the Bernabeu.
