Real Madrid’s coach, Carlo Ancelotti, is keeping fans guessing about Kylian Mbappe’s potential debut against Atalanta in the upcoming Super Cup match on Wednesday.
Kylian Mbappe, who recently joined Real Madrid as a free agent, started training with the team last week after signing a five-year contract in June.
The French forward’s arrival in Madrid ended a long-running transfer saga. Ancelotti, however, remains tight-lipped on whether Kylian Mbappe will start the game.
“Kylian Mbappe is in great shape, just like the other players who joined last week,” Ancelotti shared during Tuesday’s press conference. “We haven’t had much time to train, but things are going well. Kylian is adapting quickly. Everyone here has the potential to play tomorrow.”
Previously, Ancelotti mentioned that the players who secured the Champions League title might be favored for the Super Cup. But he didn’t completely rule out Mbappe making an appearance, leaving the fans in suspense.
When asked about the possibility of Kylian Mbappe taking on penalty duties, Ancelotti clarified that only a starting player would be given that responsibility. “Mbappe is an excellent penalty taker,” he noted. “But so are Bellingham, who did well in the European Championship, and Valverde, who was spectacular in Copa America. I have to choose one of them for tomorrow, and it will be someone who starts the game.”
Real Madrid, with five Super Cup titles already, has a chance to set a new record by surpassing Barcelona and AC Milan, who also have five wins each. Winning this match could also set the tone for a historic season, with seven titles up for grabs for the first time, thanks to FIFA’s new Intercontinental Cup.
Ancelotti expressed his optimism, saying, “We’re starting this season with excitement and high hopes. It’s the first title of what could be a very demanding but successful season. We want to start strong. I see the team in good shape, ready to play a great game.”
