Real Madrid is setting the stage for Mbappe: From elite star to true leader.

Real Madrid acknowledges that a key issue within the current squad is the absence of strong leadership and is pinning their hopes on Kylian Mbappe to fill this void.

The club believes that the team is lacking a clear figurehead for others to follow. The departures of figures like Sergio Ramos, Karim Benzema, and Cristiano Ronaldo have left a leadership gap in the locker room. While players like Toni Kroos, Nacho, and Luka Modric were once natural leaders, that role now seems less defined.

Dani Carvajal, the most influential presence in the dressing room at present, is struggling with injuries, making it difficult for him to bear the full responsibility.

Modric, despite his iconic status, is gradually losing his influence due to age and less playing time. Meanwhile, younger players such as Bellingham and Valverde are still not at a stage where they can step into the role of team leader.

Florentino Perez and the club’s management do not want Mbappe to merely be another skilled and expensive player in the squad; they envision him as a true leader, similar to Cristiano Ronaldo in the past. However, since the start of the season, Mbappe has remained relatively reserved.

He has not yet demonstrated the leadership expected, both on the field and in the locker room, which has raised concerns among the board.