Kylian Mbappé's Exclusive Interview on Joining Real Madrid
Kylian Mbappé has barely unpacked in Madrid, but he is already laying everything on the table.
In an extensive, exclusive interview with Spanish newspaper AS, the France captain walked through the key moments of his move to Real Madrid and the emotions that came with finally pulling on the famous white shirt. From the instant he chose the Spanish capital to the first days of this new era, Mbappé made it clear: this is the stage he has been waiting for.
He spoke openly about his relationship with Real Madrid, a club that has hovered over his career for years. The forward detailed the behind-the-scenes story of his transfer, how the deal took shape, and what convinced him that now was the time to leave Paris for the Bernabéu. The move, long anticipated and often delayed, has now become the centrepiece of his ambitions.
The rivalry with Barcelona inevitably came up. Mbappé did not dodge it. He weighed in on what it means to arrive at Madrid at a time when LaLiga’s great divide is once again under the spotlight, and how he views the challenge of facing Barça in the colours of Real Madrid. Within that, one name stood out: Lamine Yamal. The Frenchman discussed the young Barcelona talent, acknowledging the new wave of stars emerging on the other side of the clásico divide.
Inside his own dressing room, Mbappé highlighted the importance of playing alongside Vinícius Júnior and Jude Bellingham. He reflected on the prospect of forming one of the most feared attacking units in world football, outlining how their qualities can mesh and how he sees his own role evolving in a team already loaded with firepower.
The conversation also circled back to Paris Saint-Germain. Mbappé looked back on his years in the French capital, a spell that shaped him as a global star and a leader for club and country. He touched on what he is taking from that chapter into Madrid, and how those experiences – the highs, the frustrations, the expectations – have sharpened his mentality.
His relationship with José Mourinho, another powerful figure in the game, also surfaced. Mbappé addressed that connection, adding another layer to the web of influences that have marked his rise.
Then came the subject that follows him everywhere: the Ballon d'Or. The Real Madrid forward did not hide his hunger. He spoke about the race for the award, what it represents to him, and how his move to Madrid ties into his pursuit of individual glory. For Mbappé, though, the Ballon d'Or sits within a bigger target: stacking trophies with Real Madrid over the coming years.
Titles, records, legacy – the striker laid out the goals that drive him as he starts this new chapter. The interview peeled back the curtain on his mindset at a decisive moment in his career.
Here is the full text of that conversation.
