WWhen Real Madrid announced the signing of Kylian Mbapp for the 2024/25 season, there was a general feeling that the club were beginning a new era of domination. The move seemed perfect. One of the best clubs in the world has added one of the most outstanding players on the planet. But almost two years later, the reality is far more overwhelming and unpleasant.
A Sports Illustrated article put forward the provocative idea that, despite his scoring numbers, Mbapp was sabotaging the team’s overall functioning. It is important to emphasize that this is the author’s opinion and is not an undisputed fact. Still, anyone who has followed Madrid closely during this period will recognize certain signs. The attack has lost its fluidity and is no longer the dynamic attacking line-up that was expected, with the team’s play seemingly being conditioned by the Frenchman’s presence rather than being led by him. But what cannot be denied is that Real Madrid have not won the championship.
Individual talent alone is never enough
Madrid lost to Bayern de Munich (4-3 in the match, 6-4 on aggregate) and were eliminated from the Champions League, were far from the top of the table in the league, were badly beaten in the Copa del Rey and were unable to claim superiority in the finals they had played so far. For a club used to not only competing for everything, but winning everything, this isn’t just a bad season, it’s a sign that something structural isn’t working right.
The Paris Saint-Germain case provides a direct comparison with what is happening in Madrid. After Mbapp’s departure, Luis Enrique’s team won the Champions League for the first time in the club’s history in the 2024-25 season. The coach clearly said, “If Mbappu leaves, we will win the title, and that’s exactly what happened.” The absence of the French star gave the team balance and cohesion, but also made it harder to predict, as everyone played for the others and contributed regardless of their individual status. In the teams Kylian plays in, his presence demands a very specific style of play that does not necessarily benefit the team as a whole.
This leads to the central question: Is Real Madrid better without Mbapp? The answer is not that simple. Kylian remains an exceptional player and can sometimes decide matches on his own, but elite football is not just about individual talent. Historically, Madrid has been strongest when the collective outweighs the individual name, even the biggest name.
Mbapp adds goals but does not necessarily improve the system. And when it happens at a club like Real Madrid, the debate ceases to be purely tactical and becomes almost philosophical: which is more important, the star or the team?
So far, the expectations surrounding Kylian Mbapp have not been fulfilled and it seems unlikely that they will be fulfilled anytime soon. Simply put, things aren’t working as expected. And if time does not correct this situation, everything has its limits. Just wait to see how it ends.
