Former Manchester United coach Rene Meulensteen has cautioned the club against pursuing a move for Kylian Mbappe, despite the player’s current situation at Real Madrid. The advice comes as Mbappe has publicly stated his intention to remain with the Spanish club, dismissing speculation about a potential departure.
Mbappe joined Real Madrid last summer after a seven-year spell with Paris Saint-Germain, where he consistently averaged close to a goal per game. However, his arrival has coincided with a trophyless season for Real Madrid, a stark contrast to their two Champions League titles in the preceding three years. A petition calling for Mbappe’s exit has reportedly garnered over 73 million signatures, fueled by recent incidents including a dispute over his perceived position in the team.
According to reports, Mbappe claimed interim manager Alvaro Arbeloa informed him he was at best fourth-choice striker, a claim Arbeloa refuted. Despite the unrest and jeers from supporters during a recent match against Real Oviedo, Mbappe has firmly stated, “I’m not leaving.” This declaration followed a 2-0 victory and signals his commitment to turning the situation around in Madrid.
Meulensteen believes that Mbappe’s playing style is not suited to the team ethos that Manchester United are building. He argues that Mbappe, along with Vinicius Junior, lacks the necessary work rate and discipline to thrive in a system reliant on collective pressing, a philosophy championed by managers like Luis Enrique and Pep Guardiola. He pointed to PSG’s Champions League success after the departures of Lionel Messi and Neymar as evidence that a team-first approach yields results.
Jose Mourinho is expected to take over as manager at Real Madrid, and club president Florentino Perez is reportedly supportive of retaining Mbappe. The Portuguese manager is believed to share Perez’s view that Mbappe is a crucial part of the club’s future. Manchester United would face significant financial hurdles to sign Mbappe, but Meulensteen’s assessment suggests the potential disruption to the team dynamic outweighs any potential benefits.
