Kylian Mbappe has settled into life at Real Madrid with great ease and enthusiasm.
The French superstar recently appeared on the programme El Objetivo hosted by Ana Pastor, with the interview taking place at the iconic Santiago Bernabeu.
During the conversation, Mbappe made it clear that he is enjoying every moment of his new journey.
Mbappe explained how his admiration for Real Madrid started from a young age. The influence of Zinedine Zidane played a big role in that. Later, Cristiano Ronaldo’s impact at Madrid only strengthened his connection.
"I started following Real Madrid because of Zidane . It’s the best club in the world. And because of the arrival of Cristiano , my other idol," he began saying.
He recalled meeting Zidane and spending a week at the club’s training facility in Valdebebas.
"I met Zidane 13 years ago and it was a pleasure to wear the shirt for a week at Valdebebas . I knew that one day I would return here."
"At that time, there was a chance to come, but I wasn’t ready to leave my country and be separated from my family."
When asked about turning down a renewal offer from Paris Saint-Germain, Mbappe was very honest.
He mentioned that while money is always a factor in football, his desire to wear the Real Madrid shirt meant more than any financial offer.
"There are things more important than money. I wanted to play for Real Madrid, here at the Bernabeu. For me, the most important thing is to be happy."
"I was absolutely certain (that I would end up at Madrid). I had great confidence in my abilities, and it was what I had wanted with all my heart since I was a child. I always had in my head the idea of ??playing for Real Madrid."
Mbappe had kind words for his current manager, Carlo Ancelotti. He praised Ancelotti’s ability to balance leadership with personal support, saying that the coach knows when to guide like a father and when to lead like a boss.
This balance, according to him, has helped him adjust smoothly into the team’s dynamics.
" Ancelotti knows when he needs to be a father, when he needs to be a boss… The truth is, he does it very well; he’s made history here and wants to continue doing so."
When it comes to his teammate Vinicius Jr., Mbappe couldn’t speak more positively. He said that the two share a strong understanding both on and off the pitch.
"The relationship is very good, it’s normal for people to talk about us, about two famous players who make a difference, but I came with the idea of ??playing with Vinicius," he explained.
Now that they are teammates, he believes they form a powerful duo and hopes they can continue delivering results for Real Madrid during the most important part of the season.
"I can’t imagine a Real Madrid without Vini. We play well, we can be better. People expect more from us and that’s normal."
"We’re good together and it’s the most important part of the season. We’re going to try to help Madrid win as much as we can," he added.