Kylian Mbappe's Journey to Real Madrid: A Dream Fulfilled

Kylian Mbappe revealed his long-held dream of playing for Real Madrid, reflecting on his preparation since childhood by learning Spanish. The forward joined Real Madrid on a free transfer, marking the end of a protracted transfer saga. He shared the stage with former Madrid player Zinedine Zidane at his unveiling ceremony.

Kylian Mbappe, the French forward, publicly shared on Tuesday his childhood conviction that he would one day play for Real Madrid, so much so that he began taking Spanish classes at school.

'Since I was a child, I knew my destiny was to play for Real Madrid,' Mbappe stated at a packed Bernabeu stadium. Fans, many sporting replica shirts bearing his name, witnessed the 2018 World Cup winner clutch a model of the Bernabeu stadium, a gift from when he was eight years old.

In near-perfect Spanish, surprising journalists, Mbappe revealed his continued Spanish practice with Spanish-speaking managers. He attributed his dream to his diligence in language learning, despite not excelling in school. Real Madrid officially confirmed his signing as a free agent on a five-year contract in June, concluding a prolonged transfer saga.

Mbappe's unveiling was a grand affair, featuring compatriot and former Madrid star Zinedine Zidane, who played an instrumental role in Mbappe's journey by inviting him to the club in 2012. Despite his impressive achievements at PSG, including six Ligue 1 titles and becoming the club's record scorer, Mbappe missed out on the Champions League and Ballon d'Or.

Having reached the semi-finals of the European Championship with France, he approaches his next chapter with Real Madrid, led by Champions League history's most successful coach, Carlo Ancelotti. Confident in his adaptability, Mbappe aims to integrate seamlessly into a squad already featuring stars like Vinicius Jr. and Jude Bellingham.

(With inputs from agencies.)