Real Madrid signing Kylian Mbappe: “I can play wherever Carlo Ancelotti wants”

Real Madrid have presented new signing Kylian Mbappe to the world and a packed out Santiago Bernabeu, with a rumoured 85,000 attending the presentation. President Florentino Perez gave him a warm welcome, telling Mbappe he had now achieved his dream, and Mbappe espoused the same message during his presentation.

Mbappe was coy on why he turned Real Madrid down two years ago, but with the ‘past in the past’ now as he puts it, attention will turn to how everything comes together at the Bernabeu. One of the key questions has been where he will play, with both Vinicius Junior and Mbappe favouring a role off the left-hand side, without mentioning Rodrygo Goes.

“I can play wherever the boss wants, I can play in the three positions up top, I did so for Paris Saint-Germain and for Monaco. The most important thing is to be physically and mentally well. Where I play is a detail, not a debate. I saw the coach this morning and we didn’t talk about where I’m going to play.”

It’s not something he has discussed with manager Carlo Ancelotti yet, who he met with on Tuesday morning.

“I have spoken with the coach but only jokes. I want to play with all the players, but when you play for Madrid you do it with great players. I am happy to have met them.”

Mbappe also admitted that some of his teammates had also been in frequent contact to persuade him to join Los Blancos.

“The French, also Vini who told me to go, that we were going to play together up front.”

“Everyone tells me that when you play here it is a unique experience. And I wanted to experience that.”

The 25-year-old has operated more centrally, but increasingly has looked uncomfortable, particularly with his back to goal, while Vinicius has also moved inside at times this season, albeit without appearing on the right much. If there is one thing that Carlo Ancelotti has demonstrated throughout his career though, it is an ability to fit together stars in a starting XI.