Real Madrid’s interest in Kylian Mbappe dates back to December 2012, when the French prodigy was nearing his 14th birthday. Living at the French Football Federation’s Clairefontaine academy, Mbappe was invited to Madrid for a week.
During his visit, he attended a match at the Santiago Bernabeu and visited the club’s training ground, where he met Zinedine Zidane and Cristiano Ronaldo. Mbappe, a Ronaldo fan, had posters of the Portuguese star in his bedroom.
A memorable photograph captures Ronaldo with his arm around a young Mbappe, who barely reached Ronaldo’s shoulder.
On Monday, Mbappe expressed his joy on X (formerly Twitter), calling his move to Real Madrid “a dream come true.” However, it took over a decade for Mbappe to finally join the 15-time European champions.
Madrid’s first attempt to sign him in 2017 was thwarted by Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), who secured him from Monaco. Real Madrid tried again in 2021 and 2022, but Mbappe chose to extend his stay at PSG each time.
Now, at 25, Mbappe has joined Real Madrid after seven successful years at PSG, where he became the club’s all-time top scorer, despite never winning the Champions League.
Mbappe’s departure from PSG marks the end of an era for the Parisian club, which had already begun planning for a future without him. His departure is a significant loss for PSG.
Throughout his career, Mbappe has moved swiftly, much like his blistering pace on the field. Known for his speed and prolific goal-scoring, Mbappe is a player who can continue to dominate the sport for many years.
Real Madrid’s persistence has finally paid off, and they now have a player capable of making a significant impact. For Mbappe, the journey to Madrid has been long, but it marks the beginning of a new chapter in his illustrious career.
Kylian Mbappe’s move to Real Madrid is significant not only for his career but also for his roots in Bondy, a commune in the deprived Seine-Saint-Denis department, part of the northeastern suburbs of Paris. Bondy takes immense pride in Mbappe, whose father, Wilfried, coached him at the local club and whose mother, Fayza, was a handball player.
After Mbappe signed for PSG, a mural appeared on the side of an apartment block in Bondy, overlooking the canal that runs from central Paris up through the town. The mural, featuring Mbappe, was accompanied by the slogan: “Bondy, Ville des Possibles” –- the town where anything is possible.
This reflects the hope and inspiration Mbappe brings to the community.
Despite attending a private school, which set him apart from many in Bondy, Mbappe remains an icon in his hometown and throughout France. His connection to Real Madrid has been longstanding.
Even though Real Madrid wanted to sign him early on, his father, Wilfried, believed they would have struggled to adjust had they moved to Spain at that time.
Instead, Mbappe joined Monaco in 2013, with his father moving to the Mediterranean with him to continue his development. This decision paved the way for Mbappe’s rapid rise in professional football, leading to his prolific stint at PSG and eventually fulfilling his dream of playing for Real Madrid.
The journey from Bondy to Madrid is not just about football; it symbolizes hope, aspiration, and the belief that anyone, regardless of their background, can achieve greatness.
Ballon d’Or Dreams
Kylian Mbappe’s ambition to win the Ballon d’Or has been a driving force throughout his career. When he joined Monaco, Le Parisien highlighted him as “one of the great hopes of his generation,” noting his already-established deal with Nike and his clear goal of one day winning the prestigious award.
Mbappe made a sensational entry into professional football, debuting for Monaco’s first team at just 16, becoming the club’s youngest ever player, surpassing Thierry Henry’s record.
He quickly made history again by becoming their youngest ever goal-scorer. In the 2016/17 season, he was a key player in Monaco’s remarkable run to the Champions League semi-finals and their Ligue 1 title win, scoring 15 goals in the process.
His meteoric rise continued with a high-profile 180 million-euro transfer to PSG at the age of 18. A year later, Mbappe’s star shone even brighter as he helped France win the World Cup in 2018, becoming the first teenager since Pele in 1958 to score in a World Cup final.
His hat-trick in the 2022 World Cup final, although in a losing effort against Lionel Messi’s Argentina, further cemented his status as one of football’s elite talents.
Mbappe has just concluded his tenure at PSG, where he was Ligue 1’s top scorer for six consecutive seasons and won the French title seven times. However, his ultimate aspirations have always included winning the Champions League and the Ballon d’Or.
With his move to Real Madrid, a club synonymous with European success, Mbappe hopes to finally achieve these career-defining milestones.
Before turning his focus to Real Madrid, Mbappe aims to lead France to victory at the European Championship in Germany, adding another chapter to his already illustrious career.
