- NBA star Luka Doncic says Real Madrid will "figure it out" after tough start to season
- Kylian Mbappe yet to gel with fellow Bernabeu star Vinicius Junior
- Los Blancos six points behind in La Liga title race
Basketball star Luka Doncic says Real Madrid, the team he supports, will soon work out how to get the best out of Kylian Mbappe.
Los Blancos have faced a number of hurdles this season despite adding France captain Mbappe to their already-illustrious group of international superstars.
A 4-0 loss in El Clasico to bitter rivals Barcelona has been accompanied by two defeats in the Champions League, while they were also handed an off-field blow when Vinicius Junior lost out to Rodri for the 2024 Ballon d'Or.
Doncic, who spent his formative years with Madrid's basketball team before becoming a global star in the NBA, admitted their season has not gone well so far but insisted things will come together soon for the reigning Spanish and European champions.
He said: "I follow Real Madrid every time. I grew up there. They taught me everything, so it's a part of my life. You can call it a secondary home. I learned a lot of stuff there and, especially, they gave me a way to be here right now [in Dallas]. I always appreciate that 100%.
"Obviously [their season] could be better. But you know, when you get a guy like Mbappe, it takes some time to get used to it, but we'll figure it out."
Mbappe has scored eight goals in 16 appearances since his move to Madrid from Paris Saint-Germain, though his new team are six points behind Barca with a game in hand in La Liga and also have work to do in the Champions League.
There have also been growing concerns over his compatibility with Vinicius, with both world-class forwards favouring playing off the left.
Mbappe's woes worsened when it was revealed he had been left out of Didier Deschamps' France squad for their Nations League fixtures this month.
