Kylian Mbappé scored on his Real Madrid debut in Warsaw on Wednesday night, sealing a 2-0 win over Atalanta in the UEFA Super Cup.
Regarded as one of the very best footballers in the world, Mbappé moved to Real Madrid as a free agent in June after his contract at Paris Saint-Germain expired. The switch ended years of speculation linking the Frenchman to the Spanish giants.
On joining Real at the start of June, Mbappé used X to call the transfer “a dream come true.” Continuing, he added: “Nobody can understand how excited I am right now. Can’t wait to see you, Madridistas.”
The feeling was mutual. When he was officially unveiled in mid-July, 80,000 fans gathered at the club’s Santiago Bernabéu Stadium to greet him. However, Mbappé would have to wait until last night to pull on the white jersey for his first competitive game in the club’s colors.
The 3,000-kilometer distance between Madrid and Warsaw need not have mattered—for Mbappé, this must have felt like a home game. Having saluted different parts of the ground prior to the kick-off, each touch he made during the match was met with thunderous applause.
After both teams had hit the crossbar in the first half, it was Real who finally broke the deadlock on 59 minutes after superb buildup play from Vinicius Junior set up Valaverde for a tap-in. The evening, however, was always going to be about Mbappé.
Nine minutes later, Real doubled their lead after a cutback from Jude Bellingham was imperiously swept in by the Frenchman.
Speaking after the match, Mbappé told reporters: “Everyone knows how much playing for Real Madrid means to me. It's an incredible moment. We are Real Madrid; we have no limits. If I manage to score 50 goals, I will, but the most important thing is always to win.”
He added: “I'm happy to have scored a goal, but I know there are some things I need to improve. I've been waiting for this moment for a long time. To play in this shirt, with this badge, for these fans.”
Set to compete for another six trophies this season, the sky is the limit for both this star-studded Real side and Mbappé himself. A new era beckons for this generational talent, and having secured his first goal and trophy in the Polish capital, one could fairly say that the latest chapter of the Mbappé fairytale all began in Warsaw.
On joining Real at the start of June, Mbappé used X to call the transfer “a dream come true.” Continuing, he added: “Nobody can understand how excited I am right now. Can’t wait to see you, Madridistas.”
The feeling was mutual. When he was officially unveiled in mid-July, 80,000 fans gathered at the club’s Santiago Bernabéu Stadium to greet him. However, Mbappé would have to wait until last night to pull on the white jersey for his first competitive game in the club’s colors.
The 3,000-kilometer distance between Madrid and Warsaw need not have mattered—for Mbappé, this must have felt like a home game. Having saluted different parts of the ground prior to the kick-off, each touch he made during the match was met with thunderous applause.
After both teams had hit the crossbar in the first half, it was Real who finally broke the deadlock on 59 minutes after superb buildup play from Vinicius Junior set up Valaverde for a tap-in. The evening, however, was always going to be about Mbappé.
Nine minutes later, Real doubled their lead after a cutback from Jude Bellingham was imperiously swept in by the Frenchman.
Speaking after the match, Mbappé told reporters: “Everyone knows how much playing for Real Madrid means to me. It's an incredible moment. We are Real Madrid; we have no limits. If I manage to score 50 goals, I will, but the most important thing is always to win.”
He added: “I'm happy to have scored a goal, but I know there are some things I need to improve. I've been waiting for this moment for a long time. To play in this shirt, with this badge, for these fans.”
Set to compete for another six trophies this season, the sky is the limit for both this star-studded Real side and Mbappé himself. A new era beckons for this generational talent, and having secured his first goal and trophy in the Polish capital, one could fairly say that the latest chapter of the Mbappé fairytale all began in Warsaw.
More In Sports MORE...
