Karim Benzema has expressed that Kylian Mbappé needs to elevate his performance for Real Madrid during crucial matches.
Having achieved remarkable success over 14 years with Madrid before his transfer to Al Ittihad in July 2023, Benzema commented on his former teammate Mbappé in an interview with Diario AS: “He is incredibly talented; scoring goals is second nature for him. He did it for Paris Saint-Germain, and I believe he will net even more at Real Madrid.”
At just 26 years old, Mbappé had an impressive debut season at Madrid, netting 43 goals across all competitions and becoming LaLiga’s top scorer. He has continued to excel this season, scoring 18 goals in 16 matches.
“He needs to concentrate more during those pivotal moments when Real Madrid relies on him,” Benzema stated.
“There will be matches where Mbappé might not have many touches, but when he does receive the ball, we count on him to convert those opportunities. That’s the expectation at Real Madrid. He must deliver in key games against teams like Atlético Madrid and Liverpool, especially when they adopt a defensive stance.”
Benzema mentioned that he still closely follows Real Madrid’s matches and sees another area for team development.
“I think Vinícius, Mbappé, Rodrygo, and [Jude] Bellingham need to build better communication,” he said.
“Each player has distinct roles; one is meant to score, while another is tasked with providing assists.
“We shouldn’t expect Bellingham to score when that’s Mbappé’s responsibility, nor should we ask him to play as a number 10 when that’s Bellingham’s role. They must effectively communicate on the pitch.”
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Meanwhile, Benzema shared that he is enjoying his time in Saudi Arabia and hasn’t ruled out extending his contract with Al Ittihad, which is set to expire in June 2026.
“Yes, my contract is approaching its conclusion,” the 2022 Ballon d’Or winner acknowledged.
“I can’t definitively say if I’ll be staying or leaving; it depends on various factors. I will be turning 38 in December and I envision playing for another two years. Physically, I’m in good shape, putting in the work, and enjoying the game. We’ll see what the future holds and what the club thinks.
“I prefer direct conversations to gauge their thoughts. Ideally, I want to remain here, but not merely for the sake of spending another year or two without purpose. That’s not my style. The quality of football in this league is continuously improving.”