Karim Benzema, now plying his trade in the Saudi Pro League, has sent a clear, no-holds-barred message to Kylian Mbappé, urging the French superstar to rise to the occasion in the iconic white of Real Madrid.
Speaking with the conviction of a man who knows the weight of the club’s badge, Benzema said, “Mbappé is much better this season; scoring goals isn’t new to him. He did it at PSG, and at Real Madrid he’s going to score many more.”
The former Madrid captain, who led Los Blancos through years of glory, stressed that the expectations at the Bernabéu are sky-high.
“What we expect from Kylian is that when he gets the chance, he’ll score it. That’s how Real Madrid is.”
Benzema didn’t mince words about the pressure-cooker fixtures that define legends.
“Real Madrid need him a lot, and there are games where he has to score, like vs Atlético Madrid, Liverpool… These are teams that sit back, and he has to step up, work those situations. He has to combine with Vini Jr.”
Painting the picture of a team built for European nights, he added: “Real Madrid is waiting for Mbappé for these moments, to bring home the Champions League. I think he can do it with the other players. He can’t do it alone. He needs Vini Jr, other players… that’s just how it is.”
Benzema, known for his impeccable link-up play, emphasised the importance of chemistry in Madrid’s star-studded attack.
“I think Vini Jr, Mbappé, Rodrygo (even though he doesn’t play much), Bellingham… they have to communicate. One is there to score goals, another to provide assists.”
He drew a clear line between roles, saying: “We’re not going to tell Bellingham to score goals because that’s Mbappé’s job, nor are we going to tell him to be the number 10 because that’s Bellingham’s role. They need to talk.”
And while he applauded Mbappé’s growth, the message was unmistakable: the real work starts now.
“He’s now better, but he needs to focus more on these moments when Real Madrid needs him because he has everything he needs to do it.”
