From the moment Mbappé arrived at Real Madrid, talk began about how Ancelotti would manage to ensure the two stars connected on the pitch. A debate and controversy that continues to this day.
Every gesture, every look, every action between the two is scrutinized. The spotlight is on them, and the question of their connection on the pitch remains.Jorge Valdano joined this debate about the Mbappé-Vinicius connection on the pitch on Movistar's 'El Tercer Tiempo' to give his personal take on the matter. "They're two players who have a better relationship with the opposing goal than with the game, than with the partnership. They're accused of not finding each other, but that has to do with their characteristics. They're two great sprinters and they have a goal-scoring streak in their sights. In fact, sometimes I get the feeling they exaggerate their pursuit of each other when the play calls for a shot instead of a pass . In fact, it seems that to be considered innocent, they go after each other more than they should," he points out.
The nature of his game
In this regard, Valdano gives the example of a player whose greatest virtue is association, that of making those around him better and seeking a connection that allows them to gain advantageous positions to exploit their qualities in defining plays. "There are other players, like Bellingham, who do continually propose partnerships . And it's with him that we've had the most one-twos and partnership situations. Because it's in the nature of the game. It's very difficult to get a player out of his nature . There's also talk that Vinicius and Mbappé don't run enough, but it's impossible for these players to run with endurance efforts. I coached Romario and had Ronaldo at Madrid, and making them run around the pitch was Chinese torture . They just couldn't, they couldn't. In fact, if you played a possession game, they completely ignored it. Now, you gave them a goal in training and they were the best in the world . What you have to do is exploit what they were bought for," he points out.
Their friendship
What Valdano is clear about is that the personal relationship has nothing to do with the connection Vinicius and Mbappé may have on the pitch. A personal reason completely separates him from the debate about their understanding on the pitch. "The accusation that they aren't close enough because they don't seek each other out isn't fair . I'm not going there. I don't know what level of complicity they have off the pitch, but complicity isn't mandatory in the locker room. I've seen players have very difficult relationships, but on the pitch they understood each other because there was a footballing connection."