Real Madrid are set to officially unveil new superstar signing Kylian Mbappe in front of 80,000 fans at a full Santiago Bernabeu on 16 July.
Madrid finally went public with football’s worst kept secret in early June, announcing that Mbappe would be joining them following his departure from Paris Saint-Germain.
But the club statement was just 73 words long and the world is yet to see the Frenchman in the sparkling all-white kit that he will be wearing in 2024/25 and beyond.
“Real Madrid CF and Kylian Mbappe have reached an agreement whereby he will be a Real Madrid player for the next five seasons,” is so far the only official acknowledgement from Los Blancos that they have signed arguably the greatest player of his generation.
That will soon change. It is tradition for Madrid to roll out the red carpet for major new arrivals – just think back to Cristiano Ronaldo’s unveiling in 2009. But AS reports that the club intends this to be the “most impressive presentation ever made of a footballer” to underline to Mbappe his importance.
On Tuesday 16 July, Mbappe will report to the Spanish capital – the date is set irrespective of whether France reach the Euro 2024 final two days earlier – and will initially undergo the formalities of his medical. That evening, beginning at 7pm local time (6pm BST), he will emerge from the Bernabeu dressing room on a raised catwalk flanked by fire that wouldn’t look out of place at a Taylor Swift concert. While music plays, the 25-year-old will follow the L-shaped runway to a stage in front of the Fondo Norte where club president Florentino Perez and honorary president Pirri will be waiting.
Mbappe will be in full Madrid kit bearing his name and new number. For the first time in his career, he will wear a number nine shirt, last used by fellow countryman and Madrid legend Karim Benzema. But, like with Ronaldo 15 years ago, it is expected to just be temporary until his preferred jersey becomes available, with Mbappe to take over Luka Modric’s ten shirt next year.
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