Ex-Real Madrid GM Valdano: Mbappe learning football is more important in Spain than France

Former Real Madrid director Jorge Valdano feels Kylian Mbappe’s issues in his first six months in Spain are down to the local football culture.

Valdano believes that the demands of the local fans have taken precedence PSG Star.

He said South German newspaper: “It is a question of adaptation. Mbappé left his country, France, for the first time, and this took him out of his comfort zone sociologically. This may have led to a process of anxiety, and anxiety is the great enemy of the footballer.

“In France, soccer is not as culturally important as it is here in Spain, you can simply see it on the TV channel DAZN, which has maybe 100,000 to 200,000 subscribers in France. Real MadridOn the other hand, not only is the news leader on Sunday, but also Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.”

On Real Madrid’s reaction to Manchester City’s Spain midfielder Rhodri Winning the Ballon d’Or ahead of Vinicius JuniorThe Argentine added: “This episode is an example of how a club (Real Madrid) can even surpass a country. No Spaniard has won a Ballon d’Or since Luis Suarez in 1960.

“Rodri’s victory should have been a source of national pride. In Spain, the impression was that 2024 was not the year in which Rodri won the Ballon d’Or, but the year in which Vinicius did not win it.”