Fifteen years after his lifelong idol, Kylian Mbappé will be presented as the new star of Real Madrid.
On July 16th, at 12 noon, the Santiago Bernabéu is expected to be packed with fans as the French team captain welcomes them with open arms. However, unlike the presentation of Cristiano Ronaldo, Real Madrid intend to avoid any “mistakes”, according to the Spanish press.
Real Madrid, undoubtedly one of the most followed clubs in the world, with 15 Champions League titles to their name, are a footballing institution known for their grand gestures when needed. This was evident during the transfer of Cristiano Ronaldo for 94 million euros in 2009, which made him the most expensive player of the moment, with an extraordinary performance at the Santiago Bernabéu.
The club acknowledges past mistakes in handling Ronaldo’s unveiling. Indeed, Cristiano Ronaldo was presented to Real Madrid fans on 6 July 2009, alongside the late Eusebio and Alfredo Di Stéfano, in front of 80,000 people. Real Madrid plans to incorporate some positive aspects of Ronaldo’s unveiling, but with the benefit of hindsight to avoid previous mistakes, such as the open access policy that led to uncontrollable crowds, Relevo reported.
For Kylian Mbappé, Real Madrid plans to maintain free access, similar to Ronaldo’s presentation, but with a twist. Free access will be restricted next Tuesday, with priority given to members, followed by registered Real Madrid fans and, finally, to the general public. With the renovations at the Santiago Bernabéu allowing for a larger capacity, Mbappé’s presentation promises to be legendary, with fireworks and a 360º moving screen.
