Cristiano Ronaldo has called upon Real Madrid supporters to support their new star signing, Kylian Mbappe, who has taken on the role of a number 9 this season. After a challenging beginning to his tenure at Madrid, Mbappe has begun to find his rhythm as the team's new striker, a position he did not occupy during his time at Paris Saint-Germain.

Mbappe has recently regained his form at Madrid, earning the La Liga Player of the Month award for January 2025. Initially, he struggled in the striker role, missing several penalties against Liverpool and Athletic Bilbao. However, he demonstrated his readiness to excel in La Liga by scoring a hat-trick against Real Valladolid, signaling the end of his adjustment period.

Ronaldo, the all-time leading goal-scorer for Madrid, expressed his admiration for Mbappe and encouraged fans to extend their support to him.

"Take care of the young man," Ronaldo stated in a segment of an interview with the Spanish television program El Chiringuito, which will air in full on Monday. "The fans should show him their support. He is exceptionally talented. The club must assist in safeguarding him; I am confident he will bring immense joy to the Madrid supporters," he continued.

The five-time Ballon d'Or recipient emphasized that his appreciation for Mbappe is not solely based on the Frenchman's childhood admiration for him.

"I admire [Mbappé], not just because of his background and how he looked up to Cristiano; I was his idol," Ronaldo remarked. "I believe he is an outstanding player," he added.

Ronaldo, who also wore the number 9 jersey during his first season at Madrid, noted that transitioning to a striker role can be challenging for a player who has not previously played there.

"It is complicated, as he may not fully understand how to play as a forward in my view—it's not that he lacks knowledge, but rather that it is not his natural position," Ronaldo explained.

The Al-Nassr player drew comparisons between Mbappe's present situation and his own, indicating that he would have been inclined to mentor the former PSG star on playing as a number 9 had he remained at Madrid.

"It is a complex situation, as I believe he lacks the understanding of how to function as a forward—though it is not that he is incapable, rather it is not his natural role," Ronaldo remarked.

The Al-Nassr player likened Mbappe's current predicament to his own and expressed that he would have demonstrated to the former PSG star how to excel as a number 9 if he had still been at Madrid.

"Had I been at Madrid, I would have taught him the nuances of playing as a number nine. I was not originally a forward; I adapted to that role, but my primary position was as a winger. Many tend to overlook that. While I played as a forward, I was not a conventional one. I believe [Mbappé] should not conform to the typical forward mold; he ought to embrace his unique style," he concluded.

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