Tag: Mbappe

Kylian Mbappe’s highly anticipated La Liga debut is set to ignite the new season as Real Madrid and Barcelona renew their fierce rivalry.

After a dazzling performance in the UEFA Super Cup, where he scored and lifted the trophy, the French superstar is poised to impact Spanish football significantly.

The 2024/2025 La Liga season officially commenced on Thursday with Athletic Bilbao facing Getafe, but the real excitement lies ahead.

Barcelona’s trip to Valencia on Saturday and Real Madrid’s clash with Mallorca on Sunday will be the centre of attention.

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Football fans can catch all the action live on StarTimes Sports Premium channel, with the platform also offering every La Liga match for just N600 weekly on the StarTimes-ON app.

Jude Bellingham’s sensational debut season at Real Madrid, which saw him contribute 19 goals to the La Liga title and Champions League triumph, has raised expectations.

However, the arrival of Mbappe could reshape the team’s dynamics. Coach Carlo Ancelotti faces the challenge of integrating the French forward into his already formidable line-up.

Kylian Mbappe crashed in his first-ever goal as Real Madrid’s number nine during Los Blancos’ Super Cup triumph against Serie A outfit Atalanta. The Frenchman completed his long-awaited move to the Spanish capital in the summer of 2024 after a long-running saga.

Federico Valverde had put the Spanish giants in front after superb work from Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Jr down the left flank. The Uruguayan midfielder just had to tap the ball into an empty net as the opposing goalkeeper was taken out of the equation.

Mbappe, who joined on a free transfer from Paris Saint-Germain earlier in the transfer window, then doubled Carlo Ancelotti’s men’s advantage shortly after.

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It was never going to be long before the French talisman found the back of the net in the famous white shirt. Some more strong play from Bellingham on the left-hand side of the penalty area saw the Englishman pick out the run of his new colleague with a perfectly executed pass into the box.

Mbappe raced onto the ball and thumped an unstoppable effort into the top corner of the net. The movement and speed at which the 25-year-old read the situation were brilliant to see and evidence that it could be yet another fruitful campaign for the Champions League holders.

It was a plucky performance  by Atalanta complete  with Nigeria  international, Ademola Lookman, as they failed to produce the form that saw them thrash Bayer Leverkusen in the Europa Cup last season.

France captain Kylian Mbappe has taken over as majority shareholder of Ligue 2 club Caen, Mbappe’s company Interconnected Ventures  has announced in a statement.

The new Real Madrid player, who came close to signing for Caen when he was younger, has acquired 80 percent of the shares through Coalition Capital, the investment entity of Interconnected Ventures, replacing US investment fund Oaktree as majority shareholder.

No figure has been released officially but French media reports put the acquisition fee at 15-20 million euros ($16-21.6 million).

“This transaction marks a significant step in the club’s strategic development and reinforces its natural ambition to remain one of the most successful clubs in French football,” the club said in a statement.

“This acquisition will provide Caen with additional strategic resources to strengthen its sporting policy, modernise its infrastructure and develop innovative projects.”

Mbappe’s close friend Ziad Hammoud will take over as chairman of the club.

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“We are determined to create an environment where young talent can flourish and where the club can defend its identity with strength and ambition,” Hammoud said in the press release.

The 25-year-old World Cup winner, who now becomes one of the youngest owners of a professional club, was courted by Caen when he was just 13, before he joined Monaco and then Paris Saint-Germain.

“You’d have to think that the time he spent at Caen in his youth left its mark on him! How proud we are to see a champion like @KMbappe investing in @SMCaen,” the mayor of Caen Aristide Olivier posted on social media.

Founded in 1913, Caen finished fifth in the top flight in 1992 and reached the League Cup final in 2005 but have played in France’s second tier since 2019.

French superstar Kylian Mbappe was officially unveiled as a Real Madrid player yesterday, telling 80,000 fans “my dream has come true”.

 “I’ve slept for many years with the dream of playing for Real Madrid and today my dream has come true,” Mbappe told fans gathered in record numbers to greet him at the club’s Santiago Bernabeu stadium.

The striker, who had completed his medical earlier , signed a five-year contract and was handed a No. 9 shirt by club president Florentino Perez.

Accompanied by his parents watching from the crowd and with a former French hero of the club, Zinedine Zidane, in attendance, Mbappe was emotional as the crowd chanted his name, and at one point kissed the jersey of the reigning Spanish and European champions.

 “My family is happy and my mum is crying,” said the 25-year-old former Paris Saint-Germain player.

 “My dream is to measure up to this club, the greatest club in history,” he told the fans. “I will give my life for this club and this crest.”

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 “I’d like to send a message to the children,” he continued. “I was like you, I had a dream and today I have fulfilled it. I want to give some advice and that is that with passion you can do anything you want. Today I’m here and next time it could be one of you.”

The unveiling of Real’s latest Galactico allowed its fans to continue celebrating following Spain’s Euro 2024 triumph on Sunday.

 “We would like to welcome an exceptional player who has come to help us continue our winning ways,” said Perez. “Welcome to your home.”

Real had courted Mbappe since his early teens.

 “I know you will never forget that day in December 2012, when Zinedine Zidane invited you to visit Real Madrid City and meet the players you admired so much,” said Perez.

Tens of thousands gathered to catch a glimpse of the new signing, matching the record numbers 15 years ago when Cristiano Ronaldo was unveiled.

The free tickets were snapped up rapidly with some fans reportedly trying to resell them to take advantage of the hype surrounding the arrival of arguably the world’s best striker.

At Real, Mbappe will form part of an offensive trio alongside England midfielder Jude Bellingham and Brazil attacker Vinicius Junior under the watch of veteran Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti.

That prospect is already exciting fans of the club who won their 15^th  Champions League title in June.

Although his new teammates began training on Monday, the forward, who captained France during their unsuccessful Euros campaign, will have a few more days off before kicking off his season in the Spanish capital.

Los Blancos begin the defence of their La Liga crown with a match against Real Mallorca on the weekend of August 17-18.

Mbappe’s debut might have to wait until the following week when Real Madrid face Real Valladolid who were recently promoted from the second division.

Number 9 Mbappe shirts went on sale last Thursday in Real’s club shops which are covered with his image.

Mbappe arrives after a personally disappointing Euros campaign, where he was overshadowed by Spain’s new teenage sensation Lamine Yamal of Madrid’s rivals Barcelona and France lost to the Spanish in the semi-finals.

That followed a difficult season with PSG following his decision not to renew his contract.

The club is hoping to offset the costs – a salary of at least 15 million euros ($16.3 million) per season and a signing bonus of more than 100 million euros – through sponsorship deals and ticket and merchandise sales.

Mbappe is hoping the move will finally see him win a Champions League and the Ballon d’Or, two of his lifelong objectives.

Spain coach Luis de la Fuente has “blind faith” in his side despite taking on France and their “one of a kind” Kylian Mbappe in  today’s Euro 2024 semi-final.

Riding a wave of five straight wins, Spain have lit up the tournament, scoring 11 goals on the way to the semi-final.

France have reached the same point despite lacking attacking fluency and are yet to score from open play. France’s three strikes have come from one penalty and two own goals.

Mbappe and fellow forward Antoine Griezmann have come under fire for failing to perform, but de la Fuente remained wary, particularly of the French captain.

 “These kinds of footballers are unpredictable. You never know where they will appear and they never disappear completely.

 “His (Mbappe’s) level could be slightly lower than his usual level, but 50 percent of Kylian Mbappe could be 100 percent of any other player.

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 “A player like this can decide a game at any moment. He’s a genius, a world-class player, of which France have many.”

Despite lavishing praise on the 25-year-old French captain, de la Fuente backed his own troops.

 “Mbappe is a one of a kind and is exceptional,” the coach said, but added “to me my footballers are the best.”

 “Knowing their potential, we will try to minimise their virtues.

 “I trust we will be able to counteract them. I have blind faith in my team and know we are ready to win…”

Spain midfielder Rodri said he was not tuning in to criticisms of the French forward, considered by many to be the best player in the world.

 “I don’t trust what people say. I know the player he is. He can hurt any team at any time and we will have to be aware of what he does.”

Rodri also pushed back at suggestions France had reached the semi-final on the basis of boring football.

 “Some might think they are boring but I don’t see football in that way,” the Manchester City midfielder told reporters.

“They’re in the semi-finals and others are not. But we just want to win and play our football – and not look too much at what they do.”

French striker and captain Kylian Mbappe, asked to be substituted during extra-time in the Euro 2024 quarter-final win over Portugal because he was tired, his coach Didier Deschamps said.

The usually prolific Mbappe has not been at his best during the Euros, scoring once from the penalty spot against Poland, but otherwise failing to convert chances and looking uncomfortable in a mask.

This was after he broke his nose in the first game.

Against Portugal in the quarter-finals on Friday night, he spent time on the ground and briefly removed his mask.

This was following a hard hit from the ball on the side of his face, before later asking to be taken off and missing the shootout.

“Yes, he’s always very honest with me and the team, when he feels he doesn’t have the capacity to accelerate…

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“He’s not at his top form … he felt very tired indeed,” Deschamps said, referring to muscle fatigue and the nose issue.

“I saw him struggling during the first period of extra time. It was pointless (to leave him on).

“Kylian has always been honest with me and the group, so it was only natural to bring in some new blood.”

In his absence, Mbappe’s teammates did him proud, scoring a perfect five penalties to beat Portugal 5-3.

(Reuters/NAN)

 France striker Kylian Mbappe is making progress in his recovery from a broken nose but will not definitely play in today’s Euro 2024 game against Poland, coach Didier Deschamps said on Monday.

Mbappe broke his nose during France’s opening 1-0 win over Austria and sat out the 0-0 draw with the Netherlands. France have not scored a goal of their own in the tournament, the win over Austria being secured by an own goal.

“He’s better day by day,” Deschamps told reporters. “I won’t deny that he is as keen to play tomorrow as he was to play against the Netherlands.”

Read Also: Mbappe remains doubtful  for France remains unclear

Mbappe raised hopes of a return against already-eliminated Poland in the final group game when he put on a protective mask and took part in a practice match on Saturday.

Speaking to reporters before Deschamps, France midfielder N’Golo Kante hinted that Mbappe could be back against Poland, a match France need to win to overtake Netherlands as group leaders.

“With Kylian back, I think that can help us to score and win. Clearly, it’s a big plus to have Kylian back,” Kante said.