Carlo Ancelotti Suggests Vinicius Junior is Better Than Kylian Mbappe
Kylian Mbappe has been widely tipped to finally join Real Madrid this summer but is he even needed in the Spanish capital?
Mbappe - who looks likely to move to Madrid after his contract with Paris Saint-Germain expires on June 30 - has spent much of his career to date playing as a wide attacker from the left wing.
However, there is already a superstar in that position at the Bernabeu.
His name is Vinicius Junior and he was on fire on Saturday night as Madrid thrashed La Liga title rivals Girona 4-0.
Vinicius Junior (right) and Kylian Mbappe pictured during a UEFA Champions League game between Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain in March 2022
IMAGO/AFLOSPORT
Brazilian Vinicius opened the scoring against Girona with a powerful strike from long range before setting up the next three goals in a Player of the Match performance.
Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti was later asked in his post-match press conference to comment on the latest round of Mbappe rumors.
Ancelotti responded by indirectly claiming that Vinicius is a better player than the French forward.
"You keep asking me about a player who plays for another team," said Ancelotti. "We already have the best players in the world here.
"In order: Vini Jr first, [Jude] Bellingham second, Rodrygo third. Then [Toni] Kroos, [Federico] Valverde, [Eduardo] Camavinga…"
Vinicius produced a Player of the Match performance in a 4-0 win over Girona on Saturday
IMAGO/Alberto Gardin
Midfielder Bellingham scored two of Saturday's goals before limping off the field with an ankle injury.
Bellingham has now scored 16 times in his first 21 La Liga appearances.
During Saturday's press conference, a journalist asked Ancelotti if he saw many similarities between Bellingham and iconic former midfielder Zinedine Zidane.
Ancelotti replied: "They are similar. They have unbelievable quality. Zidane was excellent technically, Bellingham is incredible at arriving at the box. His movement in the first goal, very few can do that."
