Mbappé Opens Up on Madrid, Barça Rivalry, and Ballon d’Or Aspirations
Kylian Mbappé has only just walked through the doors at Real Madrid, but he is already talking like a man who knows exactly what he has signed up for.
In a wide-ranging interview with Spanish newspaper AS, the France captain opened up on every major chapter of his recent past and immediate future: the decision to finally join Real Madrid, the weight of the shirt, the rivalry with Barcelona, his memories of Paris Saint-Germain, and the personal targets that still drive him.
No subject was off limits.
Choosing Madrid and embracing the pressure
Mbappé retraced the moment he committed to the Spanish giants, describing the move to the capital as the start of a new era in his career. He spoke about the pull of the club’s history, the demand for constant success and the responsibility that comes with wearing one of the most iconic shirts in world football.
He detailed the behind-the-scenes process of his transfer, from the first serious talks to the final agreement, and how his relationship with Real Madrid had been built over time rather than in a single dramatic twist. For Mbappé, this was not a whim. It was a long-awaited destination.
The expectations are enormous. He made it clear he is not shying away from that.
Barça, Yamal and the new era of the clásico
The conversation naturally drifted toward Barcelona. Mbappé did not ignore the rivalry; he leaned into it.
He spoke about the prospect of facing Barça in LaLiga and how the clásico remains one of football’s greatest stages. Within that, he picked out Lamine Yamal, the young Barcelona prodigy, as part of the new generation that will shape Spanish football’s next decade.
The idea is obvious: Mbappé at Real Madrid, Yamal at Barcelona. A new storyline for an old feud.
Vinícius, Bellingham and a star-studded dressing room
Inside his own dressing room, the Frenchman highlighted the presence of Vinícius Júnior and Jude Bellingham as central to Madrid’s current project.
He talked about linking up with Vinícius, one of the most devastating wide forwards in the game, and the different ways their qualities can combine in the final third. Bellingham’s influence, both as a goalscorer and as a leader in midfield, also featured in his assessment of the squad he is joining.
Mbappé made it clear he is not arriving to be the only star. He is stepping into a team already packed with them.
PSG memories and the Mourinho connection
The interview also took him back to Paris.
Mbappé reflected on his years at Paris Saint-Germain, a spell that brought domestic dominance, intense scrutiny and an unfulfilled chase for the Champions League. He looked back on what he achieved there, what he learned and how that period shaped the player now arriving in Madrid.
He also touched on his relationship with José Mourinho, offering a glimpse into the respect between one of the game’s great managers and one of its biggest current stars. The details stayed measured, but the connection was acknowledged.
Ballon d’Or, titles and what comes next
Inevitably, the Ballon d’Or came up.
Mbappé addressed the race for the award, his hunger to finally lift it and how success with Real Madrid could tilt that battle in his favour. The message was clear: individual glory matters, but it is built on collective triumphs.
He spoke openly about his desire to stack trophies in Madrid over the coming years – league titles, Champions Leagues, everything the club is expected to fight for every season. That, in his mind, is the platform for the legacy he wants.
Across the interview, Mbappé revealed as much about his mentality as about his movements on the pitch: ambitious, unapologetically competitive, and fully aware that his next steps in Madrid will define how his career is ultimately judged.
