re: Why didn't Real buy Mbappe? Could they really not afford him?

Difficult question. I believe Zidane thought they would get him, but the Real office wanted him to stay in Monaco one more season. I know Mbappé's family thinks highly of Zizou, so it's disappointing they couldn't come to an agreement.

Mbappé really wasn't a necessity for Real, though. All of the young domestic talent is being hoarded in Madrid for pretty cheap. No reason to upset the Apple cart if what you're doing is already working. I mean, going into the season los Blancos were favorites to win the Chamipon's League. It's not like they missed out on the "missing piece" by not signing him.

Cristiano and Benzema have a really good rapport on the field, by the way. He doesn't score as many goals as people want him to, but Benz gets trashed too often and too harshly for his production level.