Ceballos's Message to Mbappé Causes Laughter in Changing Room: 'Cousin, You're...'

Real Madrid took advantage of the excellent opportunity to secure the top spot in LaLiga. The draw achieved by Atlético de Madrid at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano against Villarreal left everything set to gain a four-point lead that remains today. The Madrid comeback in LaLiga has been remarkable, but it still needs to be maintained until the end of the current season.

One of the key players in this paradigm shift in the top domestic competition is Kylian Mbappé. The Bondy striker has been dispelling all doubts about his performance in the white jersey, a growth that allows Real Madrid to be a candidate to win LaLiga.

This change hasn't gone unnoticed in Santiago Bernabéu changing room. Since last December, one can see a better Kylian Mbappé in every way, versatile, even taking on playmaking duties that tactically wouldn't be his responsibility. The joy for this modification is not hidden.

This has been made clear, with his particular sense of humor, by a Dani Ceballos who is also experiencing an excellent competitive streak. The Utrera native '19' commented the following on Mbappé's latest Instagram post: "cousin Kiki, you're on fire".

Fully settled

The affection that Real Madrid players have for Kylian Mbappé is evident in the comments he received after his hat-trick against Real Valladolid. The comment from Dani Ceballos illustrates a reality that is gradually sinking in among the Merengue fans: the best Mbappé is back and he is here to stay.

In this context, Real Madrid needs the Parisian forward more than ever. Challenging fixtures are approaching in the competitive calendar, the nearest one without Vinícius Jr. The verdeamarelo player, until now the undisputed leader of the team, is out due to accumulation of yellow cards in the Champions League.

His three yellow cards will prevent him from being present against Stade Brestois in a match that will define Madrid's fate in this edition of the Champions League. Everyone in Santiago Bernabéu locker room looks toward the Merengue '9', aware that he is one of the best competitive arguments for the remainder of the football season.

The message left by Dani Ceballos is not just a review of Kylian Mbappé's current reality. It is also a warning to the French striker himself: the rest of the players, his teammates, are counting on him. Now that he has found the path to being one of the best in the world, he must not abandon it under any circumstances.