In short:
Real Madrid has officially welcomed Kylian Mbappé during a massive celebration at the club’s stadium.
Almost 80,000 fans were at the Bernabeu to celebrate the the French superstar’s arrival.
What’s next?
Real Madrid begin their La Liga campaign on August 19, AEST, in an away game against Mallorca.
Kylian Mbappé has finally put on a Real Madrid jersey, fulfilling his childhood dream in front of a packed Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.
Nearly 80,000 fans were on hand at the Bernabeu on Tuesday to welcome the 25-year-old French star during his official presentation as the club’s newest player.
After signing his five-year contract with the Spanish powerhouse alongside club president Florentino Pérez, Mbappé entered the stage set-up at the Bernabeu to loud cheers from the Madrid fans.
Wearing the number nine jersey, Mbappé smiled broadly and waved to the fans who chanted his name, then embraced Pérez and former Madrid player and coach Zinedine Zidane, who invited Mbappé to visit the Spanish club for the first time when he was just a teenager.
“It’s an incredible day for me,” Mbappé told the crowd, in Spanish.
“Since being a kid I dreamed about playing for Madrid and today I’m here. It means a lot to me.”
Real Madrid unveil Kylian Mbappe at the Santiago Bernabeu in front of nearly 80,000 fans.(Reuters: Juan Medina)
Mbappé finished his speech by asking the crowd to join him in chanting “Hala Madrid”, similar to what his childhood idol — and “now friend” — Cristiano Ronaldo did when he arrived at the club. Mbappé then kissed the club’s shield and went around the Bernabeu kicking balls to the crowd in the stands.
“Now I have another dream, which is to live up to the history of this club, the best club in the world,” he said. “I’ll give my life to this club and to this shield.”
The record 15 European Cups won by Madrid were on display on the stage where Mbappé was introduced. His relatives, club officials and several former players were also by the stage.
“It was a historic day for me and my family,” Mbappé said later in a press conference.
“It was even greater than I had expected it to be. It’s a privilege and an honour to be a Real Madrid player.”
Pérez called Mbappé’s presentation a “historic act” for the club.
“Today we welcome an exceptional player who today is fulfilling his childhood dream,” Pérez said.
“Today you are here because it’s something that you wanted. Thank you for making a great effort to be able to wear this white jersey.”
Mbappé met with coach Carlo Ancelotti and many of his new teammates before being introduced to the fans at the Bernabeu.
He said his French teammates who play for Madrid and Brazil forward Vinícius Júnior had been among those trying to get him to join the Spanish club.
“I’m excited to get to play with everyone,” Mbappé said. “I’ll play wherever the coach wants me to play. I don’t care about the position.”
Mbappé’s presentation came after he played at the 2024 European Championship, where France lost to eventual champion Spain in the semifinal.
After years of trying to sign the young player, Madrid finally reached a deal with him in June when he opted not to stay with Paris Saint-Germain and became a free agent.
Mbappé started his career at Monaco before joining PSG and staying there for seven seasons.
Pérez made signing Mbappé a strategic club priority after the powerhouse failed to lock him up when he visited the club’s facilities as a young teenager and instead joined Monaco’s youth academy.
In 2021, Madrid was rejected after offering PSG a bid of 180 million euros ($291 million), the same amount PSG paid Monaco for a teenage Mbappé years earlier.
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AP