Madrid supporters have taken the Frenchman to their hearts – as they once did with iconic frontmen Ronaldo and Di Stefano – but Mbappe is aware that he must continue to deliver in order to avoid becoming the subject of uncomfortable probing.
Speaking to Telefoot, he said: “Real Madrid is like a religion for people in Spain; they’re very passionate, and there’s a lot of talk and speculation, sometimes justified, sometimes not.
“You have to know how to deal with criticism because everyone at Real Madrid has been criticised – Ronaldo, Di Stefano, so I don’t see why I should be an exception. You simply have to stay calm, concentrate on what you have to do, and tell yourself how you can improve your performance on the pitch.”