Page 63 - Soccer360 Issue 107

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LA LIGA - KYLIAN MBAPPE
The protracted transfer saga surrounding Kylian Mbappe’s move to Real Madrid finally concluded with the French superstar joining the Spanish and European champions at the start of June. The 25-year-old joined
Los Blancos as a free agent on a five-year contract in what was dubbed the most expensive free transfer in history. Mbappe received a massive signing-on bonus somewhere reputably to be between €117m and €150m, as well as retaining 20% of his image rights and a whole host of various performance bonuses.
The World Cup winner scored 256 goals
in 308 appearances for Paris Saint- Germain while also providing 108 assists, ridiculous numbers that certainly cement his legendary status in France. Winning seven Ligue 1 titles for both Monaco and PSG as well as four liftings of the Coupe de France among several other trophies has given Mbappe a huge chest of silverware,
however, the Champions League remains elusive to him. Where better to go in
search of Old Big Ears than to the Santiago Bernabeu and the home of the holders and record 15-times champions Real Madrid? Mbappe will be joining a club that is already stacked with attacking talent in the shape of Vinicius Junior, Jude Bellingham, Rodrygo, and Endrick and their coach Carlo Ancelotti will have a job on his hands to keep all his superstars happy.
With Vinicius happy playing wide on the
left it is likely for us to see Mbappe stake
his place in the side playing through the middle with Federico Valverde or Arda Guler coming in off the right and Bellingham driving on from midfield. A scary proposition for any opponent before you even consider the midfield and defensive talent that shape the rest of the team. The only thing that could derail this juggernaut is perhaps if Ancelotti doesn’t quite find the right balance in his attempts to accommodate all
DID YOU KNOW?
Mbappe has been one of the fastest players to win a trophy with a new club since transfering to that club. Within 2 months of transfering
to Real Madrid, Mbape won the Supercup with his new team.
SOCCER360 61
TOP:
Kylian Mbappe of Real celebrates a goal during the UEFA Super Cup 2024 final match between Real Madrid and Atalanta
BOTTOM LEFT:
Dani Olmo being presented as a new Barcelona player.
BOTTOM RIGHT:
Endrick Felipe Moreira de Sousa poses
for photos with Real Madrid jersey during his presentation at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu