'He's shut a lot of people up' - Fede Valverde claims Kylian Mbappe has silenced his critics as Real Madrid superstar 'stands out in every game'

Mbappe's high-profile move to Real Madrid in the summer was considered a risky move by those who felt the French star would struggle to fit into a team that already featured Vinicius Junior, Jude Bellingham and Rodrygo Goes, among other talented attackers. But he's settled in well, scoring seven goals in 11 appearances and receiving praise from team-mate Valverde.

The World Cup winner was devastating from the left for Paris Saint-Germain but a move to Los Blancos would mean a change in position due to Vinicius locking down that position. There were concerns that egos could collide, potentially causing trouble for Carlo Ancelotti, but so far that hasn't been the case. The 1-0 defeat to Lille in the Champions League was a disappointment, with Ancelotti raising concerns over his side's style, but the dressing room seems very happy to have Mbappe.

"As a person [Mbappe] is incredible," Valverde told France Football. "He's shut a lot of people up, [people said] if he came here there'd be a lot of conflict, I don't know what else. He's quietened all that down, all those rumours, and he's shown he's a spectacular person ... [His Spanish] is impressive, better than mine!"

The Uruguayan added: "We all know the class of player [Mbappe] is, he's one of the best in the world. Having him here today is a huge satisfaction, it's a joy to share a pitch with him.

"I've had to suffer [playing against him] with PSG, and playing against France with my country. He stands out in every game, in every training session. He's a top player. Thank God he's here with us, I can enjoy it, my family too, and my kids can watch him."

Mbappe was left out of France's squad for their UEFA Nations League fixtures against Israel and Belgium, with Didier Deschamps explaining that he didn't want to take any risks over the forward's fitness after his recovery from a thigh injury. He will likely be in action when Real Madrid take on Celta Vigo on October 19.