Alongside sharing the story of Kylian Mbappé regaining his weight, Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso also heaped glowing praise on Argentine young talent Franco Mastantuono.
Just as losing weight can sometimes be important, gaining weight can also be part of ideal fitness. Balance is key — as seen with Kylian Mbappé. During the Club World Cup, he fell ill and missed several matches, which led to weight loss. Now he has regained that weight and is shining on the pitch once again. Alonso highlighted this after Mbappé’s brace.
In La Liga on Sunday, Mbappé scored twice in Real Madrid’s 3-0 win over Real Oviedo, with Vinícius Jr. netting the other goal.
Earlier in the season, Mbappé had also scored a decisive penalty in the league opener, giving Real Madrid the victory. The star, who set records in his debut season with the club, has begun this campaign impressively.
Alonso expressed admiration for Mbappé’s overall impact on and off the pitch:
“He’s regained four kilos. He lost four during the Club World Cup. I can’t comment on last season since I wasn’t here, but now he feels great. He’s energetic and spreads that energy throughout the team. I love watching his runs. We knew he would score, but when we cover these distances while staying close together, it helps us connect and find each other on the field.”
“He played brilliantly today and performed well in the previous match too. We still have room for improvement, and I’m looking at areas to fine-tune. But the feeling within the team is very positive.”
Alonso also made several changes to the starting XI in this match, including giving Franco Mastantuono a starting spot. The 18-year-old Argentine had made his La Liga debut as a substitute in the previous game, just ten days after joining Real Madrid. For the second match, he earned a place in the starting lineup.
The coach was equally enthusiastic about Mastantuono’s performance, seeing a bright future for the teenager:
“Franco played wonderfully. He has adapted to the team in a very short time and already feels like an integral part of the squad. He has been fully engaged both in training and in matches. He will give us a lot. His energy is fantastic, and his left foot is excellent.”
“He’s still very young. He will continue to develop within the team processes. I’m happy to have him in our squad.”
