Kylian Mbappe dey pass one of im best moments since e land Real Madrid, and for one long interview with Diario AS, de striker no run from di Ballon d'Or talk. Dem ask am about im chances to win di prestigious award and about competition from Lamine Yamal, one of Barcelona big stars. Mbappe believe say dis fit be di right year for am to collect di prize, but e talk say e no dey try convince anybody with mouth. “My opinion na say dis na good year to win am. My best lawyer na my feet. No matter how I talk,” na wetin e yarn.
Di Frenchman no allow di rivalry with Lamine Yamal turn to beef. E praise di young Barcelona winger well well. “I think say he be player with plenty talent and I get feeling say he go get great career. I wish am all di best,” Mbappe talk. E still recognize say both of dem dey among di names wey fit shine for di next Ballon d’Or edition.
Mbappe also open up on wetin e mean to wear Real Madrid shirt and how e don adapt to life inside Madrid. “When you be Real Madrid player you dey enter one higher state. If you want be di best, you must pass here. To play every week for di Bernabeu na privilege,” e explain. E talk say e enjoy im life for Spain, and na im first time wey e dey live outside France. “I like living for Spain well well. Na my first time outside my country. Spain and Madrid dey give me more tranquility. I fit waka small, but no too much. Na part of di work and part of my life. I dey live well for Madrid.”
When dem ask am which three footballers e go sign for Real Madrid if e get chance among di club legends, Mbappe mention Cristiano Ronaldo, Zinedine Zidane and Ronaldo Nazario. “Cristiano go return. Zizou dey play small sometimes. And Ronaldo… di quality never lost. Dem be Real Madrid figures. Dem don give plenty and dem still dey generate plenty excitement for madridismo,” e talk. Na three references from different eras wey leave deep mark for di white club history.
Mbappe still praise Jose Mourinho, im current coach for Real Madrid. E talk say di Portuguese manager get strong influence on am and working with am every day show am one special side. “E be one of di most intelligent people I don see for my life. E be leader,” Mbappe stated. E explain say e know Mourinho trajectory before dem meet, but daily life make am value di man pass before. “When you see am every day, you go realize say e be very special person and one coach of legend, wey don mark im time and go continue to mark am with us. Sure.”
Di noise around Ballon d’Or no be only about goals and assists. Barcelona and Real Madrid na two opposite poles, two models, styles and ways to understand life, and by September di differences don show. Mbappe campaign for di award, with Real Madrid machinery behind am, no surprise anybody. Lamine Yamal, for im own side, appear for Universo Valdano and talk say both of dem be best players for world, even though e believe say e deserve am more because of titles e win dis season. E words carry respect and sincerity, as e know say individual trophies get political side wey too important. Cristiano Ronaldo don show am before when e win am against Leo Messi wey get better curriculum and talent pass am.
Some other mata still follow di same line. Rodri test dis kind style for Mestalla, after e talk with Cubarsi for bench and show surprise about Valencia state. Na private conversation wey no be to offend anybody, but e vex more for Madrid than Valencia, and e force di footballer to beg. For di same stadium and many other places, Vinicius dey send second division to every fanbase and talk words worse pass Rodri own, wey no even private but open for everybody to see, without anything happen. Cucurella also don be protagonist when Messi denounce di same thing, without di same red card wey other footballers see for World Cup, and with all di machinery against di Argentine star.
Barcelona no fit get or defend Real Madrid style, and di whites no fit feel comfortable with blaugrana style. Na two opposite models, where each side go defend im own as di correct one and criticize di other. But di point remain say football need more fairness, same measuring rod for everybody, and make di Ballon d’Or candidate win am for pitch, no be for press room. For blaugranas, Més que un Club pass slogan: na defense of culture, sections, language, values and one way of life. Di same talk still follow di economic side, as some get land reclassified while others dey recover, with Liga and fair play rules wey plenty people no like again.
