Ancelotti downplays Mbappe's talk but Rodrygo wants the French captain to join Madrid

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has refused to answer questions about the potential signing of Kylian Mbappe and insisted that he already has the best players in the world at his disposal.

Paris Saint-Germain star Mbappe has been heavily linked with a move to Real, who could give the Frenchman a signing bonus of £85million and a 60/40 split of image rights.

Ancelotti was asked about Mbappe in his post-match press conference following Real Madrid's 4-0 win over Girona.

However, Ancelotti claimed that he could already call upon the best player in the world in Vinicius Jr, closely followed by Jude Bellingham, Rodrygo, Toni Kroos, Federico Valverde, and Eduardo Camavinga.

Ancelotti said: 'You keep asking me about a player who plays for another team'.

'We already have the best players in the world here'.

'In order: Vini Jr first, Bellingham second, Rodrygo third. Then Kroos, Valverde, Camavinga…'.

Mbappe has scored 242 goals in 289 games for PSG but there have been suggestions that he wants a fresh challenge at Real.

As Ancelotti alludes to, Real can already call upon an array of stars, including Vinicius Jr, who has scored seven goals and provided four assists in 15 La Liga appearances so far this season.

Real are five points clear of Girona at the top of La Liga and will be confident of winning the title.

Mbappe has frequently been linked with Real in recent years but PSG are eager to keep him and will reportedly offer the forward a new two-year contract.

According to Ancelotti, Real Madrid star Vinicius Jr is the best player in world football

But Rodrygo differs from his manager, the Brazilian  admits he “would love to play with Mbappé” but “can’t talk much about him”

“I always want to play with the best players and he is one of the best in the world,” said the Madrid forward after the thrashing handed out to Girona.

Rodrygo Goes shone in Real Madrid’s win against Girona at the Santiago Bernabéu. Immediately after the party in the capital, the winger spoke to the media in the stadium’s mixed zone. Beyond the questions about Madrid’s Arda Güler or Girona’s Yan Couto, a certain name and surname came up again: Kylian Mbappé.

The Brazilian, who uploaded a photo with the Frenchman in the summer of 2023, is in favour of Mbappé's arrival to the Bernabéu: “I would love for Mbappé to come”, he admitted, “I always want to play with the best players and he is one of the best in the world. I can’t talk much about him. “He is a PSG player and I have to respect him.”

‘This team will be stronger every day’

The attacker was asked if the possible arrival of the French talent would cause the level of competition in attack to rise. He not only admitted so but insisted that such a proposition motivates him: “That’s good because it shows that this team will be stronger every day.”

 ‘The manager never talks to me about scoring’We knew it was an important game to win, we are happy with the win”, Rodrygo said, “it’s special for me [to get goal number 51]. I’m very happy.”

“We are confident in all the players, and they’re versatile”, the attacker responded when asked about the defensive changes that the club was forced into. “We’re confident in playing with Carvajal and Tchouaméni at the back. The manager never talks to me about scoring, I think he’s confident in me. I just thank him for his support. We talk but about other things, not scoring or assisting.”

 “He told me (at half-time) I was defending well” Rodryog chuckled, “but at the start of the second half he told me I was defending badly and that he was going to take me off! It was to pressure me a little!”