Real Madrid fans will get their first glimpse of Kylian Mbappe in action in their famous all-white on Wednesday’s Super Cup final – but can the Frenchman live up to his billing?
Kylian Mbappe kicks off the Galactico era Mark 3 on Wednesday night as he pulls on a Real Madrid shirt – alongside Jude Bellingham.
The France superstar has already eclipsed the long, expensive and illustrious list of Galactico recruits off the pitch. His new No.9 shirt is reported to have sold twice as many as his hero Cristiano Ronaldo ’s did when the Portuguese joined Real in 2009.
But will he do it on the pitch and keep Madrid at No.1 in Europe and the most alluring club in the world? The journey starts in the UEFA Super Cup against Atalanta, and he’s been passed fit.
Mbappe heralds the third era of peak-career, must-have signings to put the fantasy into football at the Bernabeu. The term was coined in the 2000s when president Florentino Perez blew rivals out of the waters with mega-money, out-of-this-world, bids for the latest hot property.
Luis Figo from Barcelona for £62m in 2000, delivering their first La Liga title for four years. A year later Zinedine Zidane for £77m to help clinch their ninth Champions League. Then in 2002 Ronaldo left Inter Milan for £46m, delivering 23 goals and a 29th league title.
The spending went on, and on and on. David Beckham and Michael Owen, and in 2005, plus Sergio Ramos, as the policy hit trouble, Barcelona surged, and Perez departed.
David Beckham was the first British star swooped up in the Galactico era ( Image: Press Association)
Michael Owen followed but failed to prove a hit in Spain ( Image: AFP)
It’s quite a lot for Mbappe to live up to. The next era was kicked off in 2009 with more than £200m spent on Cristiano Ronaldo (£94m), Kaka, Karim Benzema and Xabi Alonso, as Perez returned to the helm. Then Luka Modric and Mesut Ozil before they spent £100m on Gareth Bale in 2013. Crazy money, crazy signings.
In 2019 another £100m went on Eden Hazard. Last season Bellingham landed from Dortmund and took the place by storm with his goals and Spanish speaking, taking Zidane’s famous No.5 and living up to the legend.
Eden Hazard was signed for £100m but flopped massively ( Image: Getty Images)
He led Madrid to another Champions League, and now they have perhaps the fastest and most lethal strikers in the business to add to the Galactico legend. At his unveiling in mid-July, Mbappe admitted there was huge pressure. Delivering a record 16th European title will be expected.
Zidane’s legend is everywhere, and Mbappe has taken a leaf out of Bellingham’s play-book recalling a trip in his car with his hero in 2012. Personal touches matter, despite the cash being thrown around.
Mbappe now has a huge act to follow after Jude Bellingham’s stunning performance last season ( Image:
Real Madrid via Getty Images)
It took another 12 years to get him to Madrid, including a stalled move when he decided to stay at PSG. Will he thrive and lift all the major trophies? Almost certainly. He is not the first Galactico, and won’t be the last to successfully shoulder that burden.
“Of course there is pressure playing for the biggest club in the world but there is also pleasure at playing in the most important club in the world,” he said.