Speaking on RMC Radio, Rothen laid into Mbappé, claiming he's a failure and won't win the Ballon d'Or this year. 'He arrived at his dream club with the ambition of winning every trophy, including the Champions League, and being among the best players in the world,' Rothen said. 'Collectively and individually, he's a failure. He won't win the Ballon d'Or this year. He's a resounding failure.'
Rothen believes Mbappé's adaptation time was too short, and while he's scored plenty of goals, he's been catastrophic in games. 'He scored a lot of goals, but in the game he's catastrophic,' Rothen added.
Real Madrid's shock exit from the Champions League at the hands of Arsenal this week has only served to fuel Rothen's criticism. The Frenchman now has a slim chance of winning La Liga due to Barcelona's dominance. His move to Madrid may prove that the grass isn't always greener in football, and even a move to the Bernabéu may not pay off in the long run.