French journalist: Mbappe is in a depressive phase and is seeking help from specialists to address the issue

According to reports, Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé is not only underperforming on the pitch but is also grappling with mental health issues off the field, to the extent that he has sought professional help.

Mbappé’s first few months at Real Madrid have fallen far short of expectations. Touted as a superstar and introduced at the Bernabéu as the latest addition to the club's "Galácticos," he has struggled to shoulder the responsibility of an attack that is not yet fully mature, except in isolated moments. Initially, his disappointing performances were attributed to his position on the field—playing more centrally than he did at Paris Saint-Germain—but shifting him to the left flank has not solved the problem.

In the match against Liverpool, Mbappé once again found himself in the spotlight, albeit for negative reasons. He remained largely invisible for much of the game and was inconsistent when intervention was required. Missing a penalty that could have equalized at Anfield became the proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back. His spot-kick was saved by Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhín Kelleher, further denting his efforts to impress at his new club.

Mbappé’s “gray” performances are not entirely surprising in France. In fact, French media have drawn parallels between his current struggles and his final months at PSG. François David, a journalist from Le Parisien, noted on Cadena SER radio:

"L’Équipe published a report 10 days ago, interviewing those close to him, who stated that he is dealing with psychological issues. The term ‘depression’ is alarming, but he appears to be in a depressive state—it’s visible."

David elaborated on the pressures Mbappé faces:

"He has been caught up in political controversies in France and criticized for them. He’s also clashed with Luis Enrique and been sidelined. The pressure from PSG, from the nation, from Macron, from the public—it’s immense. We thought moving to Madrid would allow him to leave these issues behind, but that hasn’t been the case."

David also warned that Mbappé is consulting specialists to address his challenges:

"The situation is now serious."

Furthermore, David highlighted how far Mbappé seems from the heroic figure he once was on the pitch:

"He was a complete leader. You can’t say he wasn’t. In the World Cup, he helped France reach the final by scoring three goals, and the pressure during penalty kicks was likely greater than at Anfield. At 19, two years after joining PSG with Neymar by his side, he was already demanding more responsibility. He’s always drawn inspiration from the NBA, where players exude extreme confidence."

In France, Mbappé’s "disastrous" past season is almost exclusively attributed to psychological factors. David even compared him to former French international Emmanuel Petit, who recently said he could relate to Mbappé’s struggles:

"Petit mentioned that Mbappé’s running and ball-receiving style reminded him of his own issues at Monaco, which took him two years to overcome."

David concluded by emphasizing how "lost" Real Madrid's newest marquee signing appears:

"This is not the Mbappé we once knew."