Kylian Mbappe has turned down a gift from Real Madrid that Trent Alexander-Arnold is currently benefitting from
Trent Alexander-Arnold and Kylian Mbappe players of Real Madrid are training
Kylian Mbappe has rejected the very same gift Trent Alexander-Arnold is currently enjoying at Real Madrid(Image: Pedro Castillo/Real Madrid via Getty Images)
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Real Madrid superstar Kylian Mbappe has shunned the club's offer of a brand new BMW i7 despite recently passing his driving test. And in the process, he's passed on the opportunity to match up with team-mate Trent Alexander-Arnold in the club car park.
Mbappe, who turned 27 in December, is officially road legal after getting his hands on a driving licence. Such a privilege comes with a few perks when you're part of the Real elite, such as the offer of a complimentary i7.
Instead, the World Cup-winner has selected the slightly more modest (but still elected) iX3 as his BMW model of choice. Having only just passed his test, Marca reported Mbappe is conscious of biting off more than he can handle with his first daily drive.
Real struck a sponsorship agreement with BMW in 2022, which means players are required to drive models made by the German manufacturer to the training ground and other club activities. It appears ex-Liverpool ace Alexander-Arnold was forced to accept his favoured £130,000 Range Rover P530 would have to spend more time in the garage due to the ban on driving alternative brands.
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Mbappe's decision is a practical one considering the top-of-the-line i7 measures at a hefty 5.4 metres long. By contrast, the iX3 is only 4.7m long and will undoubtedly make for an easier time parallel parking for a new driver.
And while Alexander-Arnold also had his chance to take a luxurious i7 as his ride of choice, he too opted for function over fashion. The England international chose to drive the more economical iX xDrive60, an all-electric SUV that comes in at a more modest price point of around £95,000.
It would seem Alexander-Arnold, who continues to cop criticism in Madrid, is perhaps also conscious of getting ahead of himself during his first season driving in Spain. Driving in the right-hand lane could take some getting used to after all, and it may be a wise move to build up to a more powerful drive.
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Footage captured outside the Real training ground recently showed Mbappe driving out of his own volition for the first time. And he looked at ease, too, despite only recently being legally permitted to get behind the wheel.
Mbappe has won almost all there is to win in football. However, he has explained in the past that he simply didn't have the time concentrate on getting his licence.
That's seemingly changed since moving to Madrid. One would assume Real's players can drive their own choice of car when not engaged in club activities, though Mbappe may be content with his free option for the time being.
French outlet 7sur7 recently reported it's law in Spain for new drivers to wear an 'L' sticker on their car for 12 months. While he may be finding his feet on the roads, Mbappe is anything but a newbie on the field and currently leads the race for this season's Pichichi Trophy, with 23 goals in La Liga this term.
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