The Frenchman is likely to start with Vinicius and Rodrygo.
Kylian Mbappe is ready for his first La Liga game as Real Madrid takes on RCD Mallorca in their league opener at the Estadi Mallorca Son Moix on Sunday.
Mbappe, 25, joined Madrid on a free transfer after his contract with Paris Saint-Germain ended. He signed a five-year deal with the Whites, keeping him in the Spanish capital until 2029.
The Frenchman has already played his first official game for the Whites during the UEFA Super Cup match against Atlanta, where he scored in the second half to secure the title.
Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti spoke before the first La Liga match, praising Mbappe for how well he’s settled into the team.
“With all new players, the club works to make them feel at home. An extraordinary talent has joined us, and we need to help him adjust. He [Mbappe] has fit into the dressing room very well, with humility and a serious attitude. He has started off very well,” Ancelotti said during the pre-match press conference.
The Whites won both La Liga and the UEFA Champions League last season, and with Mbappe’s arrival, Ancelotti’s team is once again a strong contender to defend both titles.
“We have to compete for everything; that’s how it will be. It’s going to be an exciting league, and the first matches have been very good, with a lot of play, few fouls, and few interruptions. We’ve started well, and we need to keep going in this direction. The semi-automatic offside also makes the refereeing clearer, which will help us a lot. Hopefully, it will be a fun season, especially for us,” added the 65-year-old.
Ancelotti previously mentioned that he would manage the players’ workload carefully since he now has several attacking options in the squad. Before the match against Mallorca, the Italian coach emphasized the importance of giving players time to rest.
“Vinicius, when he comes back from playing with Brazil, instead of going straight into La Liga, he will rest for three or four days and take a short break. Then he’ll return. That’s the only way. Normally, those players train even if they don’t play, but we’re going to change that and let them use those days however they want. That’s our plan,” he concluded.
