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Big Changes Ahead; Mbappe's Impact on Real Madrid's Lineup

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Big Changes Ahead; Mbappe's Impact on Real Madrid's Lineup
The twists and turns of Kylian Mbappe's transfer saga are finally coming to an end. The news confirming the agreement between Mbappe and Real Madrid has broken. Hopefully, this time the world won't be let down by Mbappe's transfer.

Kylian Mbappe celebrating a goal, wearing a Real Madrid jersey, with the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in the background.

With this certainty, Real Madrid now needs to plan how to integrate Mbappe into the team next season, especially since their attacking lineup already has established players.

Given Mbappe's position and playing style, his arrival is bound to have an impact. So, which Real Madrid players should be feeling nervous about Mbappe joining them at the Bernabeu next season?

Jude Bellingham

With Mbappe joining Real Madrid, Carlo Ancelotti faces a challenging task. The Italian manager must devise the right strategy to maximize Mbappe's impact in Los Blancos' attack next season.

Mbappe is often utilized in a 4-3-3 formation for both the French national team and PSG, playing either as a central striker or a left-winger. However, Real Madrid rarely uses this formation. Ancelotti frequently opts for formations with four central midfielders, such as the 4-3-1-2 diamond or the 4-4-2. In these setups, Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo Goes are a dynamic striker duo, with Jude Bellingham serving as a modern trequartista behind them. This raises the question: where will Mbappe fit in?

If Mbappe prefers the 4-3-3 formation, Ancelotti might adapt to accommodate him. Ancelotti isn't opposed to this system; during his first stint with Real Madrid, he successfully employed the 4-3-3, creating the renowned BBC attacking trio (Bale-Benzema-Cristiano Ronaldo).

Reverting to a 4-3-3 formation could, however, impact Jude Bellingham's role. Accommodating Mbappe, Vinicius, and Rodrygo in a 4-3-3 would likely mean sacrificing Bellingham's position.

In this scenario, Bellingham would need to focus more on maintaining midfield balance alongside the other two midfielders. This shift could diminish Bellingham's attacking contributions, as he might be required to play a deeper role. The concern is that Bellingham's ability to break through defenses and score goals could be reduced.

This potential change is unfortunate, as Bellingham has thrived in Ancelotti's diamond formation this season, making a significant impact as both a playmaker and a prolific scorer. His current role has been pivotal, distinguishing him as a key player for Los Blancos. Adjusting the formation to integrate Mbappe might undermine Bellingham's effectiveness, which has been crucial for Real Madrid this season.

Vinicius Junior

Since Cristiano Ronaldo's departure, Vinicius Junior has emerged as the star on the left side of Real Madrid's attack. The Brazilian has successfully filled this role, contributing to numerous titles and goals.

Together with Benzema and Rodrygo Goes, Vinicius formed a formidable trio in Ancelotti's 4-3-3 system over the past two seasons. However, this season, his position has changed. He has been transformed into a forward duo with Rodrygo in a 4-3-1-2 or 4-4-2 formation.

Vinicius' heatmap in Ancelotti's new setup shows that he still operates primarily from the left side. Unfortunately, Mbappe's playing style is very similar to Vinicius', favoring movement and play from the left wing.

Mbappe has often expressed his preference to play as a left winger, particularly in the French national team, where he likes to be paired with a pure striker like Kolo Muani or Giroud. This preference dates back to his days at AS Monaco. He is uncomfortable as a central striker, although PSG's Luis Enrique has recently positioned him there.

If Mbappe insists on playing from the left side at Real Madrid, it creates a dilemma. Both Vinicius and Mbappe cannot occupy the same space, and one of them will have to adjust. This overlap could lead to one of them being sacrificed in the lineup.

Rodrygo Goes

After the emergence of wonderkid Vinicius Junior, Real Madrid acquired another Brazilian sensation in Rodrygo Goes. Rodrygo has adapted quickly and effectively at the Bernabeu, becoming a formidable presence on the field.

This season, he and his senior, Vinicius, have formed the main attacking duo for Real Madrid, a role that fills him with pride. However, with Mbappe's arrival, there are questions about whether his position will be affected.

If Ancelotti reverts to the 4-3-3 formation, Rodrygo's position on the right wing remains secure, as he has excelled there since last season. 

But if Ancelotti continues with the current 4-3-1-2 or 4-4-2 formation, where will Rodrygo fit? Inevitably, one of the attacking spots will be allocated to Mbappe.

In this scenario, Rodrygo might have to yield and become a rotation option if Vinicius and Mbappe underperform. The likelihood of Rodrygo replacing Vinicius as a starter is slim due to Vinicius' seniority and higher productivity in goals and assists.

Rodrygo's role may change significantly with Mbappe's arrival, but his talent ensures he remains a vital part of Real Madrid's attacking arsenal.

Endrick Felipe

As Ancelotti strategizes to integrate Mbappe, he must also remember another player set to join Real Madrid next season: Endrick Felipe. This adds yet another layer of complexity to an already challenging lineup puzzle involving players like Bellingham, Vinicius, and Rodrygo.

The arrival of the 17-year-old Palmeiras forward next summer means Ancelotti might only use him sparingly as a substitute. However, recent reports suggest that Palmeiras prefers to delay Endrick's move to Madrid until the end of 2024, allowing him to continue developing in Brazil.

This potential delay could be a win-win solution. Instead of being confined to the bench at the Bernabeu, Endrick would benefit from regular play in Brazil. This approach also eases Ancelotti's burden of integrating yet another attacking talent alongside Mbappe.

Arda Guler and Joselu

What will happen to Arda Guler and Joselu when Mbappe arrives? The outlook seems bleak. Even before Mbappe's arrival, both players have struggled for playing time under Ancelotti, spending more time on the treatment table than on the field.

For Arda Guler, his dream of shining as a winger at Real Madrid may need to be set aside. With Mbappe's addition, finding a place for Guler becomes even more difficult. The squad already boasts exceptional wingers like Vinicius, Mbappe, and Rodrygo. Loaning or selling Guler appears to be the most realistic option once Mbappe joins.

Joselu, whose contract expires next summer, is unlikely to have it renewed with Mbappe's arrival. Furthermore, Real Madrid has a promising future central striker in Endrick Felipe. Given Joselu's age and the club's forward-looking plans, releasing him seems like the pragmatic move for Los Merengues next season.

source: givemesport, onefootball, foottheball, goal

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