Frenchman Kylian Mbappe has officially been unveiled as a new Real Madrid player in a ceremony held on Tuesday.
Mbappe said it was his childhood dream to join Madrid after signing a five-year deal at the club in July after the expiry of his Paris St-Germain contract. His presentation was delayed due to France’s involvement at Euro 2024, where they were knocked out at the semi-final stage by Spain.
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Speaking to a crowd of over 80,000 spectators at the Bernabeu, Mbappe told the club fans: “I spent endless nights dreaming about one day playing for Real Madrid and today I am one happy guy. My family are so happy here, I can see my mum crying. It’s an incredible day for me, I’ve dreamt of this day since I was a kid and this day means a lot to me.”
The 25 year old will take the number nine shirt after sealing his move from PSG and ending one of football’s most protracted transfer sagas.
Mbappe spent seven years in the French capital and was wildly successful, lifting seven Ligue 1 titles, but the Champions League has always eluded him. He has agreed to take a major pay cut after signing a five-year contract and is due to receive £12.8million net a season at Madrid, down from the £21.4m net he earned in Paris.
Despite losing out in terms of basic wage Mbappe will be paid a sizeable signing on fee understood to be over £85.6m and will keep an 80 per cent share of image rights on any new commercial deals he signs after becoming a Madrid player.
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