"When he gets the ball, I feel like anything can happen" - F1 legend Fernando Alonso names Real Madrid star who excites him the most

Formula 1 icon Fernando Alonso has named Kylian Mbappe as the Real Madrid player that excites him the most. The Spaniard also revealed that whenever Mbappe was in possession of the ball, he felt something could happen on the field of play.

In a recent interview, Alonso opened up about his thoughts on the French star. He said (via Madrid Universal):

"Since he was at Monaco, Mbappe has always given me something special, When he gets the ball, I feel like anything can happen. He’s the player who calls to me the most."

Mbappe has been productive in front of goal since moving to the Spanish capital from Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) last summer. Despite Real Madrid's failure to win trophies, the Frenchman has delivered on an individual level.

In 56 matches in Los Merengues colors, Mbappe has scored 43 goals and provided five assists across competitions. The forward, however, is yet to register an appearance in Xabi Alonso's reign as Los Blancos manager.

He has missed Madrid's recent games against Al-Hilal and Pachuca in the ongoing FIFA Club World Cup. Reports have cited a stomach problem as the cause of his absence from the squad.

"The way of playing is different" - Federico Valverde on the difference between Carlo Ancelotti and Real Madrid's new manager

Real Madrid CF v CF Pachuca: Group H - FIFA Club World Cup 2025 - Source: Getty

Federico Valverde opened up on the difference in playing style under Carlo Ancelotti and Xabi Alonso. The Uruguayan added that Alonso didn't prefer his midfield players to drop deep and receive the ball from the backline.

In an interview following their 3-1 victory over Pachuca in the Club World Cup, Valverde was questioned about the difference between Ancelotti and Alonso's tactics. He said (via Madrid Xtra on X):

"Difference between Ancelotti & Xabi? The way of playing is different. Xabi doesn’t want the midfielders to drop deep too much to receive the ball. He asks us to be between the lines so that we can turn & drive. He also wants to have a little more control."

Alonso registered his first managerial victory in Madrid's 3-1 win over Pachuca on Sunday, June 22.

About the author

Abel is an European football journalist who focuses primarily on analysis pieces and preview copies at Sportskeeda. A B.Sc degree holder in Economics, he has a previous work experience of 3 years – a year at Opera News Hub where he was promoted as a 'Verified Sports Writer,’ and over two years at Sportskeeda as a revenue-share writer, where his writing skills have ultimately led him to be integrated into the in-house team.

A Manchester United fan who grew up in a family of Red Devils supporters, he started his journey as an ardent football fan in his childhood. He used to spend hours watching the sport with his family and developed a knack for writing about the beautiful game over the years.

He is a huge admirer of Paul Pogba owing to the midfielder's ability to thread passes from anywhere on the pitch and his favorite manager is Jose Mourinho due to the Portuguese's tactical mind. He feels France's triumph in 2018 is his all-time favorite World Cup moment, and reckons Lamine Yamal and Endrick could replicate the rivalry between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Abel always strives to verify information, especially statistics, before penning a word and offers constructive but not defamatory criticisms. Apart from Europe's top five leagues, he follows the Eredivisie and the Primeira Liga. He loves to spend his free time playing video games like EA FC and watching movies.

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Edited by Sankalp Srivastava