'You'll say I'm crazy' - Kylian Mbappe position not up for debate for Didier Deschamps as France boss hints at why forward is struggling at Real Madrid

The France captain finally completed his dream move to Santiago Bernabeu in the summer after leaving Paris Saint-Germain as a free agent. However, Mbappe has failed to live up to the expectations of the much-hyped move as he managed to record only one goal through his last seven outings across all competitions.

The 25-year-old has been assigned a more central role in the team's attack at his new club by coach Carlo Ancelotti instead of deploying him in his preferred left-wing role. Mbappe also plays in the centre for France, though he has been left out of the last two squads, and Deschamps has insisted that role will not change when he returns. However, the coach he pointed out a slight difference in the way Mbappe plays for each team that may explain his struggles.

Speaking on Telefoot, the World Cup-winning manager said: "He can play in several positions, after that it's a question of association. You might tell me that I'm 'crazy' to put him as a centre forward but he also played centre forward with his last two coaches [Ancelotti and PSG's Luis Enrique].

"He doesn't have [Olivier] Giroud's profile of course so it all depends on which team we're playing against. When he's in the centre, he has a preference for the left centre rather than the right centre even though I saw him at Real Madrid rather occupying the right centre. It's a balance."

The Frenchman will aim to regain his old form as the season progresses. He will be back in action for Los Blancos after the international break as the club take on Leganes on November 24 in La Liga.