‘007’ Mbappe Has ‘License Not To Run’, Says Ex-Real Madrid Star

Kylian Mbappe is akin to popular fictional British spy James Bond in that he has a "licence not to run" according to football pundit and ex-Real Madrid star Alvaro Benito.

Not for the first time in his career, the Los Blancos number 9 has come under fire from some corners for what is perceived to be a lack of work off the ball in pressing and trying to win it back.

At a prematch press conference to preview Tuesday's Champions League encounter with Borussia Dortmund, head coach Carlo Ancelotti was broached on the subject and said: "I prefer he scores goals than presses".

"The position of the centre-forward has not changed, I ask the same of him as I asked of Karim [Benzema]. Position yourself well and be smart every time we win the ball back to make a quick transition," Ancelotti added.

Those remarks have triggered further debate in Spain, with respected pundit Alvaro Benito quipping that "if Mbappe scores 40 goals and is being super decisive he is like 007 - he has a license not to run, like Ronaldo Nazario or [Lionel] Messi, who in stretches of the season avoided all possible races to be fresh."

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"This is not new in football," Alvaro Bentio added, though he did suggest that "if Vinicius and Mbappe, as we are seeing, save a lot of runs in the defensive area, then they have to give their all offensively".

This is ultimately because "if they are being decisive", then "everyone shuts their mouths and no one says anything".

However if the talented pair are neither mucking in defensively nor clinical in front of goal, they will have to increase their work rate until they start hitting the back of the net again Alvaro Benito believes.

In a key week for Madrid, both Mbappe and Vinicius are expected to start the mentioned UCL meeting with Dortmund and then a potential La Liga title decider in El Clasico against FC Barcelona on Saturday.

It remains to be seen if Rodrygo joins them on the front line, after an OK Diario report explained that he feels "ignored" by Ancelotti as of late.