Kylian Mbappe to be 'squeezed in' at Real Madrid as Carlo Ancelotti addresses positional concerns surrounding new galactico

Mbappe was officially introduced as a Real Madrid player in front of an 80-000 strong crowd last week, having joined the club on a free transfer following his departure from Paris Saint-Germain. However, concerns have been raised over the Frenchman's role at Santiago Bernabeu amid strong competition for places in the final third.

Ancelotti faces the crucial task of integrating Mbappe into an already formidable attack featuring Vinicius Jr., Rodrygo and Jude Bellingham. Up to now, the 25-year-old has operated mainly as a left winger, but Vinicius has made that position his own in the Real lineup, meaning Ancelotti may have to conjure up a new tactical system in 2024-25.

Speaking at the Giffoni Film Festival, Ancelotti said when quizzed on where Real's new galactico will play: "It is my responsibility to find a place for Mbappe. We’ll find a place for him, we’ll squeeze him in.”

Reports in Spain suggest that Ancelotti is contemplating shifting Mbappe to a more central role to maximize his effectiveness and balance the team's attacking dynamics. Vinicius would continue to feature on the left with Rodrygo once again operating on the opposite flank. Meanwhile, Bellingham has been tipped to drop deeper into midfield and could even be asked to slot into the vacant shoes of German legend Toni Kroos - who retired after Euro 2024.

Mbappe is currently enjoying a well-deserved break from football after an intense 2023-24 campaign with PSG and the French national team. He is expected to make his Real Madrid debut in the UEFA Super Cup final against Atalanta on August 14, after making a full recovery from the broken nose he suffered at Euro 2024.