Liverpool legend Michael Owen has stated that Real Madrid made the right decision to sign Kylian Mbappe despite the impressive goalscoring form of Jude Bellingham. The former center-forward believes that Mbappe has strengthened the Los Blancos squad and he is confident that they can successfully defend their UEFA Champions League title this season.
Last summer, Real Madrid invested €103 million ($112 million) to acquire Bellingham from Borussia Dortmund. The midfielder excelled while playing as a false nine in the first half of the season, contributing significantly to the team’s performances. Although his output decreased in the second half of the season, Bellingham still managed to score 19 goals and provide six assists in 28 La Liga matches, helping Madrid secure the title and earning the Player of the Season award. Additionally, Bellingham made a mark in the Champions League by scoring four goals and assisting five others as Real Madrid lifted the trophy for the 15th time.
Michael Owen Supports Real Madrid’s Decision to Sign Kylian Mbappe
Despite Bellingham’s outstanding displays, Real Madrid opted to bring Mbappe into their squad this summer in a bid to enhance their attacking prowess. Owen believes that pursuing one of the best talents in the football world was a logical move for the Spanish giants.
“In certain situations, you can have too much talent to manage, but Real Madrid are not facing that issue,” he stated in an interview with Prime Casino (via Liverpool.com).
“It was evident that when Karim Benzema departed, they lacked a center forward, and now they have secured the services of the world’s best in Kylian Mbappe. Signing Mbappe was a sensible decision.”
Owen further commented:
“Jude Bellingham performed admirably in the initial part of the season, serving as a false number nine and collaborating with other attacking players.
“In the latter part of the season, despite winning the Champions League, Bellingham’s form slightly dropped when he played in a deeper role. I believe most individuals involved in the sport would acknowledge that having a center forward would elevate the team’s performance even further.”
Lastly, Owen expressed his belief that it would be considered a failure if Real Madrid did not secure the Champions League title this season.
He added:
“If Real Madrid do not clinch the Champions League, there will be widespread criticism, but personally, I anticipate that they will emerge victorious.”
While Mbappe is yet to unleash his full potential at Real Madrid, his contributions have been significant. Thus far, he has participated in nine matches across various competitions, scoring seven goals and providing one assist.
