Jose Mourinho's Kylian Mbappe verdict

Real Madrid's new head coach Jose Mourinho has delivered a striking assessment of his attacking options. According to AS, Mourinho does not see Kylian Mbappe as a natural number nine striker, and has therefore blocked Gonzalo Garcia's exit from the club. Mourinho also views Endrick as a winger or second striker option, making Garcia the squad's only traditional centre-forward.

This decision emerged from a complete reversal of the earlier scenario. Before Mourinho's arrival, Real Madrid had set a €60 million price tag on the 22-year-old and were open to a sale including a buy-back clause, with Real Betis reportedly interested. However, after a thorough analysis of the squad, the Portuguese tactician instructed the club hierarchy to halt the player's departure.

Mourinho's assessment is tactically clear-cut. Mbappe is a highly versatile forward but not an outright number nine; Endrick, meanwhile, though capable of playing centrally, can shift to the wing or a second-striker role in certain tactical setups. This leaves Garcia as the only player genuinely able to fill the traditional centre-forward role.

Garcia's performances also reinforce this decision. Top scorer at the Club World Cup and the first-choice striker for Spain's Under-21 side after scoring 8 goals in a combined 1,471 minutes for the first team and Castilla in the 2025-26 season, Garcia caught the coaching staff's attention by returning from his summer break in peak physical condition.

An early opportunity to prove himself is also on the horizon. Garcia is expected to lead the attack in Real Madrid's pre-season friendly against Fiorentina in Klagenfurt, Austria, on August 1, as Endrick is not due back until July 27 and Mbappe will remain away for longer following his extended summer break.

Source: AS
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