Kylian Mbappé finally donned the iconic white jersey of Real Madrid on Tuesday, fulfilling a lifelong ambition in front of a jubilant crowd at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.
Nearly 80,000 fans gathered to witness the 25-year-old French star’s official presentation as the club’s newest player.
After signing a five-year contract alongside club president Florentino Pérez, Mbappé took to the stage at the Bernabeu amidst thunderous cheers from the Madrid faithful.
Sporting the revered No. 9 jersey, Mbappé smiled broadly, acknowledging the chants of his name, and warmly embraced Pérez and former Madrid player and coach Zinedine Zidane, who first invited Mbappé to visit the club as a teenager.
Speaking in Spanish to the crowd, Mbappé expressed his joy, saying, “It’s an incredible day for me. Since I was a kid, I dreamed about playing for Madrid, and today I’m here. It means a lot to me.”
Mbappé was joined by his family, club officials, former players, and children affiliated with his foundation on the Bernabeu stage, which was closed-roofed for the midday ceremony in the Spanish capital.
Read Also:
The stage also showcased Real Madrid’s record 15 European Cups, underscoring the club’s illustrious history.
Video boards displayed messages of “Welcome, Mbappé,” along with iconic club moments and highlights from Mbappé’s career, including images of him in Madrid’s youth uniform and alongside former star Cristiano Ronaldo.
Describing Mbappé’s presentation as a “historic act” for the club, Pérez thanked the player for his commitment to joining Real Madrid after years of pursuit.
Mbappé’s arrival follows his participation in the 2024 European Championship, where France reached the semifinals before falling to eventual champions Spain.
After playing for French clubs Monaco and Paris Saint-Germain for the past seven seasons, Mbappé’s move to Madrid became official in June after he opted to become a free agent.
Pérez had long prioritized signing Mbappé for Real Madrid, dating back to the player’s teenage years when he initially chose Monaco’s youth academy over Madrid’s offer.
Despite a previous unsuccessful bid of 180 million euros in 2021, Madrid finally secured Mbappé’s talents this summer.
