Ancelotti hinted that Real did not need Mbappe
At a press conference in the US on July 27, when asked about Mbappe's transfer, Ancelotti replied: "Next question please."
After Mbappe refused to extend his contract until June 2025, PSG is up for sale. However, Real do not want to spend hundreds of millions of dollars to buy players with only one year of contract left. Al Hilal is ready to pay a transfer fee of 330 million and a salary of 770 million, but Mbappe has not yet agreed. According to ESPN, the 24-year-old striker wants to stay at PSG until the end of the 2023-2024 season, then join Real as a free agent. Mbappe now has to train with the PSG youth team, after being dropped from the Japan tour.
Mbappe holds the record of scoring 212 goals in 260 games for PSG. He has won the title of Top Scorer of the World Cup 2022 and Top Scorer of Ligue 1 for five consecutive seasons. According to Transfermarkt, Mbappe has a market value of about 220 million USD.
This summer, Real have added midfielders Jude Bellingham, Arda Guler, defender Fran Garcia, winger Brahim Diaz and striker Joselu. Ancelotti is satisfied with the current squad without any new recruits. "We won't have any problems," said the Italian coach. "This squad is complete and great."
On July 23, Real started the summer tour with a 3-2 win over AC Milan. The Italian team took a two-goal lead, but Ancelotti's teachers and students came upstream with a brace from Federico Valverde and a goal from Vinicius. In the match against Man Utd on July 26, Real won 2-0. Bellingham opened the scoring in the sixth minute, before Joselu volleyed the bike upside down to seal the victory in the 89th minute.
"Bellingham's table shows his quality," said Ancelotti. "He made a run from very deep. Rudiger passed a great pass and he scored. Joselu's goal was also not something you usually see."
Besides the rookies, Ancelotti was also pleased to test the 4-4-2 formation and the pair of strikers Vinicius - Rodrygo. According to him, the two Brazilian strikers are dangerous when holding the ball. He will let Real play more directly in the transition phase, and Bellingham is the key player to make this happen.
Real has two friendlies left in the US, against Barca on July 29 and Juventus on August 1. On August 12, Ancelotti's teachers and students will start La Liga with a away match at Bilbao Stadium. Last season, Real finished second in La Liga with 78 points, 10 points behind Barca.
