Kylian Mbappé's journey at Real Madrid has been anything but smooth sailing since his highly anticipated arrival. The French superstar's initial months with Los Blancos were marked by disappointment, including a particularly challenging performance against Barcelona where he registered a record eight offsides in a 4-0 home defeat.
The statistics tell a story of early struggles: while Mbappé managed to score 10 goals in his first 21 matches across LaLiga and Champions League competitions, only seven of these were from open play. For a player of his caliber, who had previously dominated European football, this return was considerably below expectations.
"I hit rock bottom," Mbappé candidly admitted in December, following a particularly difficult period where he missed crucial penalties against both Athletic Club and Liverpool. Such honest vulnerability from a player of his stature is rare, offering a glimpse into the mental challenges of adapting to one of football's most prestigious clubs.
Prior to joining Madrid, Mbappé's credentials were impeccable. Since 2017-18, he ranked second in Europe's top five leagues with 155 non-penalty goals, second in progressive carries with 985, and second in touches inside the penalty area with 1,645. Only legendary figures like Robert Lewandowski, Lionel Messi, and Mohamed Salah surpassed him in various attacking metrics.
However, Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti believes the adaptation period is now complete. "Mbappé's period of adaptation has finished," Ancelotti stated on December 21. "He's now at his best. He's played well in recent games. He looks more motivated, excited. He needed time, like everybody does. But that period is over."
The post-Christmas period has shown promising signs of improvement, with Mbappé scoring seven non-penalty goals in nine matches. Yet, challenges remain. His recent performances, including a scoreless showing in a shocking 1-0 loss to Espanyol, suggest there's still work to be done.
The structural changes at Madrid may partly explain these adaptation difficulties. The retirement of Toni Kroos removed one of the team's premier passers, while the presence of Vinicius Jr., who favors the same position as Mbappé, has created tactical challenges. Unlike his time at PSG, where he benefited from the creative genius of Messi and Neymar, Mbappé has had to adjust to a different attacking system.
As Real Madrid prepares for a crucial clash with Atlético Madrid this weekend, all eyes will be on Mbappé to see if he can rediscover his devastating form against one of Europe's most defensively solid teams. The match presents both a challenge and an opportunity for the French forward to prove that his adaptation period is truly behind him.
