June 2024 stands as a historic month for Real Madrid supporters. It began with a dominant 2-0 win against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League final at Wembley, marking their 15th time as kings of Europe. Having conquered both the domestic league and the continent's most prestigious tournament, the celebration was already immense, but signing the world's most desired talent was the perfect finishing touch.
June 2024 will be remembered warmly by Real Madrid fans. On the first day of the month, they defeated Borussia Dortmund 2-0 in the UEFA Champions League final at Wembley Stadium to become European champions for the record 15th time. As winners of La Liga and Europe’s biggest club competition, Los Blancos fans all over the world had reason to celebrate this season. The fact that they then signed the world’s most coveted footballer was the icing on the cake.
The long-awaited move is finally official: Kylian Mbappe is a Real Madrid player. Once he confirmed he was leaving Paris Saint-Germain upon the expiry of his deal, it seemed inevitable that he would join the Spanish giants, a move that had been teased two years ago. The paperwork is now complete.
On June 3, Real Madrid announced that Mbappe has committed to a five-year stay at the club. Although he arrived as a free agent after his contract with PSG ended, the financial package is still substantial. According to BBC Sport, the French forward will receive €15 million net annually, averaging about €288,000 a week. While this is a step down from his previous earnings at PSG, it is a reasonable adjustment given the move.
There is still some mystery regarding which shirt number Mbappe will wear. He wore number 7 at PSG and might want to follow in the footsteps of his idol, Cristiano Ronaldo, by taking the same number in Spain. However, since Vinicius Junior currently holds that jersey, it's unlikely the club will force a change. Given that the number 9 is currently vacant, that is the most probable choice for Mbappe for the 2024/25 season.
Before he debuts for Madrid, Mbappe will be focusing on Euro 2024, hoping to lead France to their first title of the tournament. His first appearance in a Madrid kit will happen during the preseason, specifically in a friendly against AC Milan on July 31 at Chicago's Soldier Field. The club is keen to have him integrated into the squad for the start of the tour.
It's still unclear when his first official competitive match will be, as the La Liga schedule hasn't been released yet. However, he could potentially make his debut in the UEFA Super Cup on August 14 in Warsaw, where Madrid will face Atalanta, the Europa League champions.