On Tuesday, French football sensation Kylian Mbappe was officially introduced as a Real Madrid player, addressing an audience of 80,000 with the words "my dream has come true". Earlier in the day, the forward had undergone his medical examination and subsequently inked a five-year deal, receiving the No. 9 jersey from club president Florentino Perez.
Mbappe expressed his emotions in Spanish, eliciting cheers from the packed Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. The 25-year-old, formerly of Paris Saint-Germain, declared, "I've longed to play for Real Madrid for years, and today that dream has materialized. I am a contented individual ready to dedicate my life to this club."
Surrounded by his parents in the stands and with former French legend Zinedine Zidane present, Mbappe was visibly moved as the crowd chanted his name and he kissed the jersey of the reigning Spanish and European champions. Perez described Mbappe as "an extraordinary player here to aid us in our quest for more victories, a player who is living his lifelong dream today." He welcomed Mbappe to his new home.
Despite his teammates starting training on Monday, Mbappe, who led France in their unsuccessful Euro campaign, will enjoy a few more days of rest before commencing his season in Madrid. The introduction of Real's newest Galactico followed Spain's victory in Euro 2024, allowing fans to prolong their celebrations.
Anticipation was high, with the turnout expected to surpass that of Cristiano Ronaldo's unveiling 15 years prior. Free tickets were quickly claimed, with some fans attempting to resell them due to the excitement surrounding the arrival of the world's arguably top striker. At Real, Mbappe will join an attacking trio with England's Jude Bellingham and Brazil's Vinicius Junior, under the guidance of seasoned Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti.
This prospect has already thrilled the club's supporters, who celebrated their 15th Champions League title in June. Real Madrid kicks off their La Liga defense with a match against Real Mallorca on August 17-18, though Mbappe's debut may be delayed until the following week when they face newly promoted Real Valladolid. The No. 9 Mbappe shirts were released last Thursday in Real's club stores, adorned with his image.
Mbappe's arrival comes after a personally underwhelming Euro campaign, overshadowed by Spain's Lamine Yamal and France's semifinal loss to Spain. This followed a challenging season at PSG after deciding not to renew his contract, with the striker, PSG's all-time top scorer, feeling "liberated, relieved" by his move to Real. The club plans to offset the substantial costs—a salary of at least 15 million euros per season and a signing bonus exceeding 100 million euros—through sponsorship deals and sales of tickets and merchandise.
Mbappe is optimistic that the transfer will enable him to achieve his lifelong goals of winning the Champions League and the Ballon d'Or.
