Rio Ferdinand has stated that Kylian Mbappe is a big reason why Real Madrid are the favorites for the UEFA Champions League trophy next season. Los Blancos won the Champions League title last season after beating Borussia Dortmund 2-0 in the final.
Many believed that the No. 9 position was a weakness in their team, given how they failed to sign a permanent replacement for club legend Karim Benzema last year. In response to the Frenchman's exit, Carlo Ancelotti pushed Jude Bellingham up the pitch and often stuck with Vinicius Jr. and Rodrygo Goes in a front two.
The moves evidently paid off as they won the league and Champions League double in style. Now, they have further strengthened their team by adding Mbappe to their ranks. For Ferdinand, that is reason enough for the club to be odds-on for the Champions League trophy once again.
The former Manchester United defender said (via @MadridXtra on X):
"UCL favourites odds? I have Real Madrid, I see the odds. But nah, Real Madrid are the favourites for me. They’re the holding champions and signed Mbappé."
Real Madrid have 15 Champions League trophies to their name — by far the most of any club. They have won that trophy a remarkable six times since the 2013-14 season and have been an ever-present in the competition since the 1996-97 campaign.
Real Madrid's Federico Valverde: "Kylian Mbappe is going to contribute a lot"
Federico Valverde has praised Kylian Mbappe and labeled him as one of the best players in the world. With a FIFA World Cup trophy and seven Ligue 1 titles to his name by the age of 25, the Frenchman has quickly become one of the sport's biggest superstars.
Speaking in a press conference before their UEFA Super Cup match against Atalanta on August 14, the Uruguayan midfielder said (via Diario AS) [h/t Football-Espana]:
"He’s [Kylian Mbappe is] one of the best in the world. He is going to contribute a lot."
Mbappe, with 48 goals in 84 senior appearances, is already France's fifth-highest goal-scorer of all time. He was regularly among the goals during his trophy-laden spell at Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), smashing 256 goals and laying out 108 assists in 308 matches.
Mbappe was rested for the entirety of Real Madrid's pre-season tour of the USA but started in the Super Cup against Atalanta.
