Cristiano Ronaldo has advised that Kylian Mbappe should not be deployed as a traditional centre-forward, insisting the French superstar is far more dangerous when given the freedom to attack from wider positions rather than being confined to the penalty area.
Speaking in an interview conducted in Spanish, Ronaldo said Mbappe possesses exceptional pace, movement and dribbling ability that are better suited to a more fluid attacking role than the responsibilities of a conventional No. 9.
The Portugal captain explained that while Mbappe is capable of scoring goals from the central position, he lacks the natural instincts of a traditional striker whose game revolves around operating with his back to goal, holding up play and constantly occupying central defenders.
According to Ronaldo, forcing the Real Madrid forward into that role could restrict his greatest strengths and reduce his overall influence in matches.
“He shouldn’t play as a traditional striker,” Ronaldo said, stressing that Mbappe should be allowed to exploit spaces from the left or move freely across the frontline, where he can use his speed and direct running to unsettle defenders.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner added that he would gladly share his experience with the French international if given the opportunity, noting that playing as a striker requires specific movements, positioning and decision-making developed over many years.
“I would teach him how to play as a striker because I wasn’t born a striker either. I learned the position,” Ronaldo said, recalling how he evolved from a winger into one of football’s most prolific goalscorers.
He also urged Real Madrid to protect Mbappe by allowing him to develop naturally instead of placing excessive expectations on him to replace every aspect of his game.
Ronaldo maintained that Mbappe remains one of the world’s finest footballers and believes he will continue to flourish at Real Madrid if used in a role that maximises his qualities rather than forcing him into the mould of a traditional centre-forward.
(The Sun)