Kylian Mbappe set to make his debut for Real Madrid in Super Cup final vs Atalanta

The stage is all set for Kylian Mbappe to make his debut for Real Madrid when the Champions League winners take on Europa League winners Atalanta in the UEFA Super Cup in Warsaw, Poland, later on Wednesday. The Los Blancos secured the signing of the French superstar this summer after his contract ended with League 1 Champions Paris Saint-Germain. He signed a five-year deal in June to put an end to a transfer saga that has been going on for seven years.

Kylian Mbappe’s Debut

The French international joined Madrid’s pre-season training last week after finishing his assignment for his country at Euro 2024. He has been included in the squad for the Super Cup clash. In his pre-match press conference, Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti talked about his chances of playing in the final. He said, “Kylian has arrived well, like all other players who have not had much time to train. He’s in good form and adapting well. Obviously, everyone who’s here could play tomorrow.”

Carlo Ancelotti also joked about fitting all his stars into the team. “All summer I have been thinking about who to pick and who not to pick, and it ruined my holidays,” he laughed. The Los Blancos already had Vinicius Junior, Jude Bellingham, Brahim Diaz, and Rodrygo in attack, while Mbappe and a Brazilian prodigy joined the club this summer.

Real Madrid’s pursuit of Kylian Mbappe

The transfer saga for Mbappe dates back to 2017. Madrid has held various conversations with his entourage and Monaco, but the deal did not materialise as his father wanted Mbappe to continue in France for a few more years. PSG took the chance and signed the player on loan, which later became permanent. Madrid continued to follow him, and in 2021, they made two formal offers to PSG in August, neither of which received a response.

At that time, Mbappe had only a year left on his contract, and everything was looking set for him to join Madrid for free in the summer of 2022, but he made a dramatic U-turn to sign a two-year extension. But his relationship with PSG soured after he informed the club in 2023 that neither he was going to renew nor trigger the clause to stay at the club for another year. PSG tried a lot, but all went in vain as he signed for his dream club in June 2024.

Madrid will be playing its ninth Super Cup final, whereas Atalanta will be playing the final for the first time. The Italian club is without striker Gianluca Scamacca, who tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee at the start of the month.