NBA star Luka Doncic backs Kylian Mbappe amid slow start at Real Madrid

Rajarshi has been part of Khel Now since 2022, and he covers world football.

Published at :November 19, 2024 at 4:36 PM

Modified at :November 19, 2024 at 4:37 PM

Mbappe has been under the spotlight due to his poor performances for Los Blancos.

After a sluggish start to life as a “Galactico,” NBA player Luka Doncic is optimistic that Kylian Mbappe would “figure it out” at Real Madrid.

After leaving Ligue 1 powerhouse Paris Saint-Germain, the World Cup winner became another high-profile addition to Los Blancos in the summer of 2024 when he signed as a free agent at Santiago Bernabeu. The France international was expected to do well.

Mbappe had set out to score 50 goals in his first season with Real Madrid. But he has only managed eight goals in 16 games thus far. After being shifted from his preferred position on the left flank, the 25-year-old is still adjusting to life as a centre forward.

As he seeks to find a spark at the club level, France manager Didier Deschamps has been allowing Mbappe to take a breather from international duty. There are problems that must be resolved for one of the world’s most formidable attackers to play at his peak.

Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks, who grew up in Real Madrid’s renowned basketball academy, thinks Mbappe and Los Blancos will come up with a win-win solution. Donic stated to Managing Madrid:

“I follow Real Madrid every time. I grew up there. They taught me everything, so it’s a part of my life. You can call it a secondary home. I learned a lot of stuff there and, especially, they gave me a way to be here right now (in Dallas). I always appreciate that 100%.”

He added: “Obviously (their season) could be better. But you know, when you get a guy like Mbappe, it takes some time to get used to it, but, we’ll figure it out.”

Mbappe will return to LaLiga action on Sunday when reigning winners Real Madrid visit Leganes, following his most recent hiatus from international duty, during which many questions were raised about his future in the France side.

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Rajarshi Shukla

After earning a bachelor's degree in mass media, Rajarshi began his career as a sports writer in 2019, driven by his passion for sports journalism. He has been working in the field for over six years. A devoted fan of Lionel Messi and Barcelona, Rajarshi has been involved in sports since childhood. Before turning his focus to journalism, he even represented his college at the state level. Along with covering football, he enjoys playing the game, watching movies, and experimenting with new recipes in his spare time, as cooking is one of his favorite hobbies.