Kylian Mbappe: “Dream Has Come True” at Real Madrid Unveiling

French superstar Kylian Mbappe was officially unveiled as a Real Madrid player on Tuesday, telling an electrified crowd of 80,000 fans, “my dream has come true.” The 25-year-old forward, who completed his medical earlier that morning, signed a five-year contract and received the iconic No. 9 shirt from club president Florentino Perez.

“Wow,” Mbappe exclaimed in Spanish, eliciting roars from the packed Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. He expressed his lifelong aspiration, stating, “For years I’ve dreamed of playing for Real Madrid, and today my dream has come true.” Mbappe, visibly emotional, added, “I’m a happy boy. I’m going to give my life for this club.”

Accompanied by his parents in the stands and the legendary Zinedine Zidane in attendance, Mbappe was met with chants from the crowd and even kissed the jersey of the reigning Spanish and European champions.

Perez welcomed Mbappe warmly, calling him “an exceptional player” who will help the club continue winning. “Welcome to your home,” he said.

While Mbappe’s new teammates began training on Monday, he will enjoy a few additional days off before starting his season in Madrid. His unveiling came on the heels of Spain’s Euro 2024 triumph, allowing fans to continue celebrating.

The turnout for the event was expected to surpass that of Cristiano Ronaldo’s unveiling 15 years ago. Free tickets were quickly snapped up, with some fans attempting to resell them to capitalize on the excitement surrounding Mbappe’s arrival.

At Real Madrid, Mbappe will join forces with England’s Jude Bellingham and Brazil’s Vinicius Junior, under the guidance of veteran Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti. This formidable trio has fans buzzing, especially following Real’s recent success in winning their 15th Champions League title in June.

Real Madrid kicks off their La Liga title defense with a match against Real Mallorca on the weekend of August 17-18. However, Mbappe’s debut may come the following week when they face newly promoted Real Valladolid.

The club’s merchandise shops have already begun selling Mbappe’s No. 9 jerseys, adorned with his image. This transfer follows a challenging Euro campaign for Mbappe, where he was overshadowed by Barcelona’s teenage sensation Lamine Yamal, and France fell to Spain in the semi-finals.

Having parted ways with Paris Saint-Germain, where he became the club’s all-time top scorer, Mbappe described his transfer to Real as a moment of liberation and relief. The move carries significant financial implications, with Real Madrid expected to offset the costs—reportedly a salary of at least €15 million ($16.3 million) per season and a signing bonus exceeding €100 million—through sponsorships and merchandise sales.

Mbappe’s ambitions in Madrid extend beyond personal success; he hopes this move will finally pave the way for him to secure both the Champions League and the Ballon d’Or, two lifelong goals he is determined to achieve.