“I’m at the best club in the world”

Kylian Mbappé now wears white and he embraces it with remarkable maturity. In his interview with Universo Valdano (Movistar Plus+), the French forward delivered a sentence that perfectly sums up his mindset:

“I’m at the best club in the world. I have to win, perform well, and be an example for my teammates and for the people.”

Far from seeing pressure as a burden, Mbappé turns it into motivation.

“You’re the one who puts pressure on yourself to achieve things. It’s a positive kind of pressure because it helps you raise your level and support the team,” he explained.

He admits that although he’s used to media scrutiny, nothing compares to the weight of Real Madrid’s badge, a shirt that’s not just worn, but honored.

The “no” to Real Madrid that changed his story

Mbappé also recalled the moment, at just 18 years old, when he had to say “no” to the club of his dreams.

“When I left Monaco, my clear goal was to play. At Madrid there were Benzema, Cristiano, and Bale, and I didn’t want to sit on the bench,” he confessed.

That decision, made in 2017, led him to sign for PSG, where he spent seven glorious years, becoming the club’s all-time top scorer and one of the most marketable players in the world.

“It was incredible to play in Paris, in my home city. The pride of playing where you were born is something special. But of course, I always had the dream of playing for Madrid,” he recalled, mixing nostalgia with satisfaction.

Today, the Frenchman admits that time simply proved him right: he needed to mature before taking on the biggest challenge of his career.

The dream fulfilled

After years of rumors, rejections, and failed transfer attempts, Mbappé is finally living the dream he’s had since childhood: being a Real Madrid player.
The forward doesn’t hide his excitement or the sense of responsibility that comes with joining a club that waited for him so long.

“It was a long road, but now I’m where I always wanted to be,” he said.

The difference between the young man who turned Madrid down in 2017 and the Mbappé of today is clear: now he arrives with experience, titles, leadership, and the mindset of a player who understands that Real Madrid is not a destination it’s a responsibility.

Mbappé knows that legends like Cristiano, Zidane, and Raúl left an indelible mark at the Bernabéu and that’s exactly what he aims to do next.

From the Parc des Princes to the Bernabéu: two different worlds

For Mbappé, comparing Real Madrid to PSG doesn’t make sense. At Madrid, he says, pressure doesn’t come from the fans or the coach, but from personal standards.

“It’s me who pushes myself to live up to this shirt,” he stated.

Mbappé’s goal is not only to win titles, he wants to build a legacy.

“Being at Real Madrid means being an example,” he emphasized.

At Valdebebas, his teammates praise his discipline, humility, and hunger to succeed. And while there’s still a long road ahead, the Frenchman has already begun writing his own chapter in Real Madrid’s storied history.