Kylian Mbappé’s dream day has arrived. The star of the French national football team was presented with Real Madrid in a Santiago Bernabéu stadium packed with fans as if it were a big Champions League match.
The French striker was given a spectacular reception by the Madrid fans, who en masse wanted to welcome a player that the club have been trying to sign for many years, even when he was playing for Monaco. Something that his previous club, Paris Saint-Germain, have been avoiding by means of pressure and huge sums of money that have been keeping Mbappé in the French capital for all these seasons.
Now, finally, at the age of 25, Kylian Mbappé is fulfilling his childhood ‘dream’ of playing for the ‘best club in the world’. In a spectacular presentation in front of 80,000 people, the French footballer was acclaimed at his unveiling as a new Real Madrid player.
Real Madrid’s new signing Kylian Mbappé – REUTERS/JUAN MEDINA Mbappé wore the number 9, the number abandoned last season, and showed an exultant happiness, the same as that of Florentino Pérez who welcomed the great object of Real Madrid’s desire in recent years to strengthen the squad. A squad that is the current champion of Europe and the Spanish League, which is a great challenge for Mbappé who arrived with humility recognising that he has signed for the ‘best club in the world’ and that he will ‘leave his life’ for this club to achieve the objectives and continue to give joy to the Madrid fans, most of whom have forgiven the French player for his ups and downs and his refusals to join Real Madrid by renewing his contract twice with Paris Saint-Germain, a club that has had a whole state like Qatar behind it, with its political pressures and its excessive economic power.
Real Madrid has managed to sign what is considered the best striker in the world, competing on unequal economic terms with the Qatari economic power thanks to what the Madrid club represents, the most successful in history. A fact that was underlined by the display of the 15 European Cups the club has won so far, including the one won last season in London against Borussia Dortmund.
Real Madrid’s new signing Kylian Mbappé kisses the club crest during the presentation – REUTERS/JUAN MEDINA The reigning European champions welcome in yet another star who will have to find his place up front alongside Vinicius Jr, who many believe is the leading candidate to win the next Ballon d’Or, and Rodrygo, the Merengues’ other first-choice Brazilian striker.
Coach Carlo Ancelotti has tactical work to do now in order to fit the pieces together if he decides to play with three strikers up front and only have three midfielders. We will see if, for example, Rodrygo comes out of the equation if the Italian coach decides to give more balance to the team next season by keeping the commitment to four midfielders in the middle and two strikers, who would be Vinicius and Mbappé.
In any case, Mbappé joins a group of players with Vinicius, Rodrygo, Bellingham, Camavinga, Valverde, Carvajal, Modric, Rüdiger, Militao, Courtois, etc., who won the most important titles last season and who in the new session are aiming to win everything.
France striker Kylian Mbappé (2nd left) poses with his parents Wilfrid Mbappé (left) and Fayza Lamari (2nd right) and Real Madrid president Florentino Perez during his first appearance as a Real Madrid player at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on July 16, 2024 – AFPIERRE-PHILIPPE MARCOU The big winner during Kylian Mbappé’s presentation day was undoubtedly president Florentino Pérez, a successful businessman who took over Real Madrid many years ago. The madridista president has placed the Chamartín club in an enviable economic situation while continuing to achieve very important sporting successes, thanks to a balanced and planned management and with the commitment also to young talents in the absence of being able to compete on some occasions with the so-called ‘State clubs’ such as PSG or Manchester City, which have countries like Qatar or the United Arab Emirates behind them and which have practically unlimited economic funds to be able to acquire the best players in the world.
Despite these rivals, Florentino Pérez has recently been able to bring in players such as Jude Bellingham, perhaps the most sought-after midfielder at the moment, and Kylian Mbappé, considered by many to be the best striker in the world, without having the economic power of other teams, but offering a sporting project and a historical trajectory that continue to make Real Madrid the most famous club in world football.
Real Madrid’s new signing Kylian Mbappé after the press conference – REUTERS/JUAN MEDINA “We welcome an exceptional player who is coming to help us continue winning,” said Florentino Pérez during the presentation at a Santiago Bernabéu stadium packed with fans and already looking impeccable after a major refurbishment. “Dear madridistas, it is a great satisfaction for all of us to return to normality and to be able to present the new Real Madrid players in our stadium. Here, in this imposing temple of world football, a good part of what we are has been written. A Bernabéu that has seen the best players defend our shirt and that is now ready for what will be a before and after in the history of Real Madrid. This stadium will continue to enjoy the best players in the world,” said the Madrid president.
“The time has come to welcome an exceptional player who has come to help us continue winning. A player who today fulfils the dream of his life. Today we welcome Kylian Mbappé. Dear Kylian, thank you for making an effort that many can’t even imagine so that today you can wear this white shirt, which is the shirt of 15 European Cups. Welcome to your new home, welcome to Real Madrid,” said Florentino Pérez.
France striker Kylian Mbappé (left) poses with Real Madrid president Florentino Perez during his first appearance as a Real Madrid player at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on July 16, 2024, after signing his new five-season contract – AFP/OSCAR DEL POZO Kylian Mbappé showed his great happiness and spoke of the challenge ahead of him: “I have the dream of living up to this club, the greatest in history”. “It’s incredible to be here. I have slept for many years with the dream of playing for Real Madrid and today my dream is coming true. I am very happy. I want to thank first of all the president Florentino Pérez, who trusted me from day one. Many things happened, but I want to thank you. Also to all the people who have worked for me to be here. It was very difficult, but we won. I am now a Real Madrid player,” said the French striker.
General view inside the stadium as Real Madrid President Florentino Perez speaks to the crowd during the presentation – REUTERS/JUAN MEDINA “It’s an incredible day for me. Since I was a little boy I have had the dream of playing here. Since I was little I have felt the love and affection of the Madridistas. Thanks to everyone. Now I have the dream of living up to this club, the best in the world. I’m going to give my life for this club and this crest. I’m proud to be at the club of my dreams and the greatest club in the history of football,” said Mbappé.
A woman buys the newly launched shirt of French footballer Killyan Mbappé at the official Real Madrid shop at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium – AFP/PIERRE-PHILIPPE MARCOU Much is expected of Real Madrid’s new ninth-choice striker. We will see this season if the expectations are met and the white team once again has a year full of important titles with the new contribution of Kylian Mbappé.