New Real Madrid player Kylian Mbappe believes he was destined to play for the club after completing his free transfer move from PSG.
Fresh off a semi-final exit at the European Championships with France, Real Madrid wasted no time in getting Mbappe’s announcement completed as the 25-year-old was paraded around the Santiago Bernabeu in front of 85,000 supporters earlier today.
Mbappe departs French Champions Paris Saint-Germain as their record goalscorer, after scoring 256 goals in 308 games. The free transfer to Madrid is a huge loss for Luis Enrique’s PSG, who signed Mbappe back in 2018 for £166 million, which is still the second most expensive transfer of all time.
Speaking to the media after his official presentation, Mbappe says he is privileged to be joining ‘the biggest club in the world’:
“It’s a huge honour and real privilege,” Mbappe said. “It’s been an amazing day and thanks to Real Madrid.
“I feel honoured to say I’m a player of Real Madrid. It was my dream as a kid, I’ve waited for this move for so long. It’s a great satisfaction for me and my family.
“Since I was a kid, it was a dream, a goal. I knew that my destiny was to play for Real Madrid. Fortunately this dream has come true and I want to enjoy it.
“I am here and quite humbled. This is the biggest club in the world, and I’m here with ambition. The priority is to get on with the team, then everything will be much easier.
“I want to help the club on the pitch. I was close to coming here two and three years ago but that’s the past. I want to focus on now. Everybody in my family knew I wanted to play for Real Madrid so it’s a historic day.
“[Florentino] Perez has trusted me and helped me and my family. I’m a man and person before being a player. I’m happy with the relationship I have with the president.
“People sometimes love you and annoy you but it’s amazing the love from Real Madrid supporters. I haven’t played for them yet and the fans are sending great love to me. I need to do things good on and off the pitch for supporters.
“You know when you come to the Bernabeu you’re coming to the best team in the world, thank god I play for them. I had to defend for PSG and now I will do it for Real Madrid.
“I’m going to play for a historic team and legacy weighs heavy on your shoulders. I’ve had the luck to play for great teams. Real Madrid is the most important club.”
