Kylian Mbappé was officially unveiled as a Real Madrid player on Tuesday, expressing his excitement to 80,000 fans, stating, “My dream has come true.” The French superstar completed his medical earlier that morning and signed a five-year contract, receiving the No. 9 shirt from club president Florentino Perez.
“Wow,” Mbappé said in Spanish, eliciting cheers from the packed Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. “For years, I’ve dreamed of playing for Real Madrid, and today, my dream has come true. I’m a happy boy. I’m going to give my life for this club.”
With his parents watching from the crowd and former club legend Zinedine Zidane in attendance, Mbappé was visibly moved as fans chanted his name. At one point, he kissed the jersey of the reigning Spanish and European champions.
“He is an exceptional player who comes to help us continue winning, fulfilling the dream of his life,” Perez welcomed him, adding, “Welcome to your home.”
While his new teammates began training on Monday, Mbappé, who captained France during their recent Euro campaign, will have a few days off before starting his season in Madrid. His unveiling coincided with the celebrations of Spain’s Euro 2024 victory.
The turnout for the event was expected to rival that of Cristiano Ronaldo’s unveiling 15 years ago, with fans quickly snapping up free tickets. Some even attempted to resell them due to the buzz surrounding Mbappé’s arrival, seen as one of the world’s best strikers.
At Real Madrid, Mbappé will join an exciting offensive trio with England’s Jude Bellingham and Brazil’s Vinicius Junior, all under the guidance of veteran coach Carlo Ancelotti. The club, fresh off their 15th Champions League title, kicks off their La Liga defense against Real Mallorca on August 17-18. Mbappé’s debut may come the following week against Real Valladolid, newly promoted from the second division.
Shirts featuring the No. 9 Mbappé have been flying off the shelves since last Thursday, adorned with his image.
Mbappé joins Real Madrid after a challenging season with Paris Saint-Germain, where he chose not to renew his contract, leaving him feeling “liberated and relieved” by the move. The club anticipates covering his salary, reportedly over 15 million euros per season, along with a signing bonus exceeding 100 million euros, through sponsorships and merchandise sales.
