Real Madrid’s signing of Kylian Mbappé on a free transfer this summer was hailed as a major triumph. However, reports indicate the club overlooked critical concerns about the French star’s declining physical output before finalising the deal.

Real Madrid is out of sorts, and the Frenchman is part of that. As such, the glare falls on him. He’s the story, a dialed-down, diluted version of the soccer phenom he was upon arrival in Spain. A dizzied surfer unable to ride the waves he once could.

Kylian Mbappé’s start at Real Madrid has been challenging since his free transfer from Paris Saint-Germain this past summer. The 25-year-old has faced a series of setbacks, and his struggles