Dj Vnyash
Kylian Mbappé is set to make his long-awaited debut for Real Madrid as they face Europa League champions Atalanta in the UEFA Super Cup in Warsaw on Wednesday.
After years of pursuing him, the Spanish club secured Mbappé’s signature with a five-year contract in June, following the end of his time with Paris Saint-Germain.
The French captain will be thrown into the spotlight for his new team’s first official match of the season, where he has the opportunity to win his first European trophy.
Mbappé played a key role in helping France reach the Euro 2024 semi-finals, although he faced challenges in Germany, suffering a broken nose in the opening match and scoring just one penalty goal.
The 25-year-old was presented to 80,000 fans at the Bernabeu and then granted a holiday, which meant he missed Real’s pre-season tour of the United States. His debut in Poland comes just a week after his first training session with Carlo Ancelotti’s squad.
“Kylian can start just like everyone else here,” Ancelotti stated in Warsaw before the game. “He is adapting well, focused, and displaying extraordinary quality.”
Spanish media are excited to finally see Mbappé in action for Real. The main sports newspapers in Madrid featured the same training photo of the striker on their front pages, with AS headlining “Superdebut,” while Marca used “KM0,” referring to his initials and marking the start of his journey with the club.
Ancelotti dismissed concerns about integrating Mbappé into a squad that won the Champions League last season, joking about how the decision-making process had disrupted his summer vacation.
Real Madrid’s attacking lineup already includes Vinicius Junior, Jude Bellingham, and Rodrygo, and they’ve also added Brazilian talent Endrick to the roster. Toni Kroos and Nacho have left the club since their 15th European championship in June, and Eduardo Camavinga is sidelined with a knee injury.
Atalanta is competing in the Super Cup for the first time after winning the previous season’s Europa League, marking their first major European title. They will be without striker Gianluca Scamacca, who tore his anterior cruciate ligament earlier this month, but they have signed Italian international Mateo Retegui from Genoa.
Last year’s Super Cup was claimed by Manchester City, who triumphed over Sevilla in a penalty shootout.
Recent UEFA Super Cup Winners:
- 2023: Manchester City (ENG)
- 2022: Real Madrid (ESP)
- 2021: Chelsea (ENG)
- 2020: Bayern Munich (GER)
- 2019: Liverpool (ENG)
- 2018: Atletico Madrid (ESP)
- 2017: Real Madrid (ESP)
- 2016: Real Madrid (ESP)
- 2015: Barcelona (ESP)
- 2014: Real Madrid (ESP)
