Mbappé? Adapting to Real Madrid is difficult

Nacho Fernández, former captain of Real Madrid and current player for Al Qadisiyah in Saudi Arabia, where he moved last summer, commented on various topics related to his former club during an interview on Wednesday.

Nacho, who spent almost his entire career at Real Madrid, winning a total of 25 titles including six Champions League trophies and five La Liga titles shared his thoughts on the current state of the club.

Speaking on the program “El Partidazo” on COPE radio, the 34-year-old Spanish defender first addressed Real Madrid’s boycott of the 2024 Ballon d’Or gala. The club chose not to attend after learning that the award would go to Rodri instead of Vinícius Júnior, a decision with which Nacho admitted he did not fully agree.

"I’m not going to get involved in the club’s decision; they must have their reasons. Honestly, I would have attended the gala. I think the issue is that there was a belief that Vinícius would win, and it’s not easy to manage having something almost in your hands only to be told at the last moment that it’s not yours. It must have been a very tough blow. It’s easy to say from the outside, ‘Yes, I would definitely go,’ but you have to be there to understand,” Nacho remarked.

“For me, without a doubt, I would have given the Ballon d’Or to Vinícius. Right now, I believe he is the best. But I’m also very happy for Rodri because he’s a great player and a good person. I don’t take any credit away from Rodri; he deserved it as well,” Nacho continued, adding, “I sent a message to Vini and told him that this would only make him stronger. I’ve never seen a player who has overcome so many challenges. I’m sure he will win it in the future.”

Regarding the current form of Real Madrid, Nacho defended both head coach Carlo Ancelotti and Kylian Mbappé, downplaying the somewhat underwhelming start the French forward has had in Madrid, with eight goals and two assists in 16 appearances.

“If there’s a coach who deserves respect and credit to get through a situation like this, it’s Ancelotti. He’s won everything with Real Madrid and is the perfect person when there’s a need for calm in the dressing room during a small crisis. It’s not like there’s a disaster happening right now. They’re still close to competing for La Liga, and there are many Champions League matches left. There are a lot of great players in attack, and fitting all those pieces together isn’t easy. Once they find the right formula, they could be an unstoppable team,” Nacho assured.

On the topic of Mbappé, Nacho acknowledged the challenges the French star has faced in adapting to life at Real Madrid. “Mbappé? He’s one of the best in the world. But when you arrive at a club like Real Madrid, adapting is difficult; it has happened to everyone. It’s not the same as playing elsewhere. When he hits his stride, it will be spectacular,” Nacho concluded.