France boss Didier Deschamps made it clear this Saturday that he sees Kylian Mbappé’s best position as center forward—the role he’s been playing at Real Madrid this season. His comments, made ahead of the UEFA Nations League third-place match against Germany, could be seen as a subtle message to Carlo Ancelotti.

“He’s used to playing there and he’s very effective. It’s no coincidence he ended up as Europe’s top scorer—nobody scored more than him. He’s not the same type of striker as Giroud, but I still think his best position is as a central forward,” said Deschamps in a press conference.

Mbappé embracing his new role

Mbappé himself admitted he’s getting used to this new role on the pitch. “Being the number 9 for your club and for your national team is not the same. But I feel like I’ve made progress in some areas. I’m starting to get used to it. Football’s unpredictable—right now I’m a striker,” said the forward.

A shift in perspective

In the past, Mbappé had shown some discomfort playing as a number 9 for France, preferring to start from the left wing like he did at Paris Saint-Germain. But now at Real Madrid, that left side belongs to Vinícius Jr., so he’s taken on the role of central striker.ç

The position switch has sparked plenty of debate—not just among fans and pundits, but also within the French coaching staff, where there seems to be a clear idea of where their new attacking leader can be most dangerous for Les Bleus.