Mbappe joins Real Madrid, reminisces humbling childhood visit
Kylian Mbappe was officially introduced on Tuesday as the new Real Madrid player. He recently recounted a story about his visit to the Royals' training camp when he was 14 years old. After returning, he spent three days cleaning from morning to night.
16 July 2024 20:48
Real Madrid is one of the biggest football clubs in the world. The proven method to stay at the top is to bring in young, highly talented players. Real knows how to encourage them to join the club.
When the promising Kylian Mbappe was 14 years old, he received an invitation from Real for four days to the Valdebebas training camp. The Frenchman could not only tour but also train in the Royals' academy. For a teenager, it was quite a treat.
Kylian Mbappe remembered his visit to Real Madrid's training camp in a recent interview on the Envoye Special program. The young footballer's mother Fayza Lamari, who shaped Kylian Mbappe's character, quickly brought him back to earth after returning from Spain.
My mum used to take me to school and I helped clean the classrooms. When I went to Spain at Real's invitation, my duties didn't decrease. I spent four days at Real's facilities, saw all the stars and coaches, and then had to return and spent three days cleaning classrooms from top to bottom – says Kylian Mbappe.
I didn't understand it completely at the time. I asked why she brought me back to school again. But that's youth. Today, looking back, I would do the same. I touched the stars and had to return to the ground – adds the Frenchman.
On Tuesday, Kylian Mbappe was presented as the new Real Madrid player. He became the new star of the Royals at the age of 25, just over a decade after visiting Real Madrid's training camp as a teenager. The transfer of the offensive player is so far the biggest event in the football market this summer.
