Former Real Madrid player Steve McManaman thinks Real Madrid is better off buying Kylian Mbappe than Neymar. Real Madrid began to experience difficult times after Cristiano Ronaldo left the transfer market this season. After a 1-0 win over Espanyol, Real Madrid recorded three defeats and one draw in the next four games in all competitions they played.
That fact makes Real Madrid believed to be recruiting in the January transfer window after they did not make an impressive purchase after Ronaldo’s departure at the start of the season. The name of the two stars of Paris Saint-Germain, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar, had been hunted at the start of the season even though the rumor finally evaporated.
“Of course that might happen (buying Neymar and Mbappe), everything is possible now.”
“I don’t think that Real Madrid will pay a high price for Mbappe, but before that I didn’t think Cristiano Ronaldo would leave Real Madrid. In fact, he did that,” McManaman was quoted as saying by Marca.
If Real Madrid only has the ability to recruit one of Mbappe and Neymar, McManaman sees Real Madrid as better at choosing Mbappe. Although Neymar is a world-level star who has far higher flight hours, Mbappe’s young age should be considered.
“Who do I prefer to play at Real Madrid? Mbappe.”
“He is younger, he is still 19 years old and I think there are still many things that can be taught to him. He is easier to get into the team,” McManaman said.
The man who also once defended Liverpool admitted he was disappointed that PSG’s performance was not optimal when facing Liverpool at Anfield.
“I want to see how PSG played in Paris because in Ligue 1 they won without problems. But when they face Liverpool or Napoli, they have to work harder.”
“Mbappe, Neymar, and Edinson Cavani … they are great players, but they have to work harder (when facing a big team),” McManaman said.
In this new season, Mbappe has the same good statistics. The French star has made 10 goals and four assists, while Neymar has 11 goals and four assists.
Madrid are reportedly ready to compete with Barcelona to bring Neymar back to La Liga. Neymar was said to give the code began to not feel at home at Paris Saint Germain because the club also had Mbappe as a frontline mainstay.
Madrid have long wanted to make Neymar a Cristiano Ronaldo substitute. Neymar moved to PSG last year with a sensational transfer fee of 222 million euros. But reportedly, the former Santos player wants to return to Barca. Neymar’s chance to return to Barca is greater than moving to Madrid because of a good relationship between Barca and PSG.