It has been a big week in world football, with the biggest transfer move of the summer confirmed.
Kylian Mbappe’s transfer to Real Madrid would normally shake up European football, but with Real already the reigning Champions League winners, it could simply extend their dominance.
Nonetheless, many are excited to see what Mbappe can achieve, including former United and Madrid stars David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo.
First up, Mbappe’s attention is on Euro 2024 with France, as he bids to win a trophy he has never won – and there will be eight Manchester United players standing in his path.
Kylian Mbappe stirs Europe v South America debate
Speaking after arriving with the French national team this week, Mbappe spoke about the challenge of the European Championships, believing it is the hardest international tournament to win, even more than the World Cup, due to the consistent quality of the teams involved.
He said: “I have always felt the same way. It is a really very complicated competition. For me the Euro is more difficult than the World Cup, even though there is much more pressure in a World Cup.
“From the group stage it will be very complicated. We played with Austria, a surprising team. We also have the Netherlands and Poland, which is a very good team and that we faced in the round of 16 of the World Cup and they still needed the playoffs to enter, which shows the complexity of the competition.
“It’s a competition we haven’t won for 24 years and that’s huge.”
Mbappe could have ended his comments there. But, per Infobae, he managed to antagonise the entire South American continent with his subsequent words.
He said: “The advantage we have here is that we always play high-level matches, we have the Nations League for example. When we get to the World Cup, we will be ready.
“Argentina and Brazil do not play high-level matches to reach the World Cup. In South America football is not as advanced as in Europe. And that is why when you look at the last World Cups it is always the Europeans who win.”
Mbappe’s comments seem to leave out the fact Argentina actually won the 2022 World Cup, beating the new Real Madrid star’s France side in the final.
To counter 2018 (won by France), 2014 (won by Germany), 2010 (won by Spain), and 2006 (won by Italy) all saw European sides triumph, with Brazil the previous South American team to win it in 2002.
Lisandro Martinez hits back at Mbappe
Manchester United star Lisandro Martinez was quizzed about Mbappe’s comments during a press conference as Argentina build towards the Copa America.
While trying to be respectful, Martinez made clear that he disagreed with the comments from Mbappe.
He said: “I will leave his opinion to him. I have a different opinion. I just don’t underestimate, all competitions are difficult to win.”
He was backed by international teammate Emiliano Martinez, who added: “No, there is nothing more difficult than a World Cup. We all know that.”
More backing may actually come indirectly from Brazil, who are currently disproving Mbappe’s comments that qualifying for the World Cup is easy in South America.
The Selecao have won only two of six matches and rank in sixth place, only just inside qualifying spots. A slide in form could lead to the unthinkable prospect of the 2026 tournament taking place without them.