Carlo Ancelotti speaks out over Rodrygo controversy as Real Madrid prepare for 'beautiful' Kylian Mbappe debut at Santiago Bernabeu

Following Real Madrid's Super Cup victory over Atalanta, Spanish media widely celebrated the dawn of the "BMV" era, focusing on Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappe, and Vinicius Junior as the new attacking force for Los Blancos. Marca, one of Spain's leading sports outlets, featured the trio on its front page, but notably absent from the image was Rodrygo, sparking further discussions about his position in the squad.

Rodrygo, who has been the subject of transfer rumours in recent months, reportedly responded to this omission with a WhatsApp message that was later deleted. In the message, he is said to have expressed frustration, stating that while the media was hyping up the "BMV" trio, they would soon need to include his name—"R" for Rodrygo—into the acronym, implying that he also deserved recognition as part of the team’s attacking lineup.

According to The Athletic, Rodrygo wrote: "Last week, they talked about the trio of Bellingham, Mbappé and Vini (B-M-V), but they are going to have to add Rodrygo’s R to that acronym. We have a quartet of attackers and the rest of the team. Everyone has their importance in the matches and will show their value in the different competitions in which we participate.”

In a pre-match press conference, Ancelotti shared that he had a conversation with Rodrygo to address the rumours.

"I spoke to him this week and asked him if something had happened," Ancelotti revealed. "He told me that the message was fake. He is happy here and working very well. He is happy, delighted because he is playing. It’s a subject that we don’t talk about because it hasn’t happened. We all know what his qualities are. He contributed a lot against Atalanta, also with a goal against Mallorca. When we have an attacking team, the strikers have to work a little bit more (defensively). He is doing very well.”

While the Rodrygo controversy was put to rest, attention quickly shifted to the upcoming home debut of Real Madrid's latest star, Mbappe. After years of speculation and a lengthy pursuit by the club, the Frenchman finally made the move from Paris Saint-Germain to the Spanish capital this summer, fulfilling his long-held dream of playing for Los Blancos.

As Mbappe prepares to take the field at the iconic Santiago Bernabeu for the first time, excitement among the Madrid faithful is palpable. Ancelotti expressed his optimism about the occasion, predicting a memorable experience for both the player and the fans.

"I think it will be a beautiful day for Mbappe, to play at the Bernabeu for the first time in a Real Madrid shirt," Ancelotti said.

"The fans are very excited about him, and he will have a great game, because of the quality he has -- the fans will enjoy themselves."

Mbappe's La Liga debut ended in a 1-1 draw against Mallorca, where he was unable to find the back of the net. He will look to make amends to his form and get on the scoresheet when Los Blancos host Real Valladolid on Sunday.