July 17 – French superstar Kylian Mbappé was officially unveiled as a Real Madrid player on Tuesday and was given a rapturous reception by 80,000 fans.
“I’ve slept for many years with the dream of playing for Real Madrid and today my dream has come true,” Mbappé told fans who gathered in record numbers to greet him at the club’s Santiago Bernabeu stadium.
The striker, who had completed his medical earlier on Tuesday morning, has signed a five-year contract and was handed the No. 9 shirt by club president Florentino Perez.
Accompanied by his parents watching from the crowd and with a former French hero of the club, Zinedine Zidane, in attendance, Mbappé was emotional as the crowd chanted his name, and at one point kissed the jersey of the reigning Spanish and European champions.
“My family is happy and my mum is crying,” said the 25-year-old. “My dream is to measure up to this club, the greatest club in history. I will give my life for this club and this crest.”
“I’d like to send a message to the children,” he continued. “I was like you, I had a dream and today I have fulfilled it. I want to give some advice and that is that with passion you can do anything you want. Today I’m here and next time it could be one of you.”
At Real, he will form part of frightening offensive trio alongside England midfielder Jude Bellingham and Brazil attacker Vinicius Junior.
Real had courted Mbappe since his early teens and Perez declared: “We would like to welcome an exceptional player who has come to help us continue our winning ways. Welcome to your home.”
Mbappe arrives after a personally hugely disappointing Euros campaign which followed an equally difficult season at Paris St Germain following his decision not to renew his contract.
He leaves PSG as the French club’s all-time leading scorer with 256 goals but is hoping the move will finally see him win a Champions League and the Ballon d’Or, two of his lifelong objectives.
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