K. Mbappé recently gave an exclusive interview to José Félix Díaz, editorial director of AS newspaper, at Real Madrid's training ground. It was the first interview the French striker gave to the Spanish newspaper since joining Real Madrid. They spoke in detail. In the first part of the interview, K. Mbappé talked about his dream of playing for Real Madrid, his life and peace of mind in Madrid, the magic and pressure of playing at the Bernabéu, and his relationship with Florentino.

Journalist: Kilian, first of all, thank you very much. You've been here for over two years now. When that boy who dreamed of happily playing for Real Madrid finally arrived here, was everything as you wanted it to be?

K. Mbappé: Yes, exactly as I wanted it. Because I was expecting the best club in the world and I expected great enthusiasm from the Madrid fans and everyone else. I thought I already had a certain status before arriving, but I believe that when you become a Real Madrid player, you always reach a different level, a higher level. I think that if you want to leave your mark on football history, you have to play for Real Madrid.

Journalist: Is that what you feel?

K. Mbappé: Yes, 100%, 100%. What I've experienced has not disappointed my expectations at all. All of this, playing at the Bernabéu every week, it's a privilege, having such enormous support from the fans and the affection I've felt in Spain, which I didn't expect, the country's warmth towards me. I really enjoy living here, being here. This is my first time leaving my home country, so it's an important moment in my life, and I'm glad I made this decision.

Journalist: That's what I was about to ask: what has Real Madrid given you? What has Madrid given you? What has life in Spain given you? Are you living peacefully?

K. Mbappé: More peaceful, much more peaceful. I had less peace of mind in France. I wanted to immerse myself in a new culture and adapt to Spanish culture as quickly as possible. Of course, I still need a bit more time, but I think that with time, with each passing month, I feel better and better in Spain. I've never had an unhappy moment here. Only at the very beginning, because I didn't have a home yet, and when you don't have a home, you always feel a bit, you know, a bit uncomfortable, you want to go back home, to have your things, but since I got my home, I've been very happy here.

Journalist: Do you go out, as we often say in Madrid? Do you walk around the city? Can you?

K. Mbappé: Yes, yes, but not that much. Sometimes, but not much, because although I have more peace of mind, it's still... it's also normal, it's part of the job, it's part of my life, and I accept it 100%.

Journalist: But are you living well in Madrid?

K. Mbappé: Yes, very well, very well. Honestly, very well.

Journalist: When you came here as a Paris Saint-Germain player, you saw this stadium. I remember some images of you and your teammates walking onto the Bernabéu pitch, looking at the Bernabéu with expressions of admiration. Is what you feel here now the same as what you felt back then as a PSG player?

K. Mbappé: No, even more. Because playing for Real Madrid is a completely different feeling. And when I came with Paris, the Bernabéu wasn't fully built yet. Of course, you look at it and think: this is a fantastic stadium, but it wasn't finished, parts of it were still under construction.

Journalist: What were you thinking that day when you walked out with your teammates... We noticed it back then, you know, we like to use our imagination a bit, and we would have guessed: "He's thinking he'll be playing here next year."

K. Mbappé: Yes, yes, yes, I remember it very well, very well. The problem back then was that, I remember, it was the day before a Champions League match, and it was very noisy because the workers were still building, and noise was coming from above. So when we came out, we all looked up because it felt like something was about to fall on us from above. I remember people saying he was very excited. Yes, it's a fantastic stadium, full of history, but at that moment it was really very noisy. But when you actually see it, when I came to Madrid for my presentation, and every game I've played... I've been here for two years now, and I've never had the feeling: "okay, I'm used to it." It's always, always so special.

Journalist: Does playing at the Bernabéu still excite you?

K. Mbappé: Always, always, always. Because it's a legendary stadium, you feel the weight of history, and every game is different. Everyone forgets what happened in the past and focuses only on what will happen next. So every time you have the opportunity to create a new story, which you don't see everywhere in the world's stadiums.

Journalist: Do you still get nervous every time you play at the Bernabéu?

K. Mbappé: Yes, 100%, 100%. I hope that we as a team will experience many more magical nights at the Bernabéu, because when a great Champions League night happens at the Bernabéu, I think there's no better place in the world.

Journalist: Florentino Pérez is a president who makes history. How important is his presence for you to be able to play here?

K. Mbappé: Very important, because he's the one who brought me here. I was in contact with him for 10 years before joining Real Madrid. He always showed great care for me and always understood the context of every decision I made, whether it was good or bad for Real Madrid. He always told me that one day I would play for Real Madrid. Today I'm here, and I'm very happy, so I must thank him for everything he's done for me and for everything he continues to do for me, because for me he's the best president in the world, as I've already said.

Journalist: When did you make your decision? Was there a specific detail that made you feel: "I have to play for Real Madrid"? Not young Kilian, but professional player Kilian.

K. Mbappé: Honestly, frankly speaking, nobody needs to convince you to join Real Madrid.

Journalist: No, rather than people, it's some details, right? Some details.

K. Mbappé: No, no, no. It's just that in my history with Real Madrid, there was a period when I wanted to come, but I couldn't. In football, if you understand it the way I do, you know that sometimes things are beyond your control. You have to wait. In football, sometimes the timing has to be right, and you can only move forward when all the lights are green. Because, I think from my perspective, everyone always knew that at some point I wanted to come to Real Madrid. I've said it many times, but sometimes if it doesn't happen, it doesn't happen. You have to accept it, of course there will be disappointment, but a footballer's life is always about looking forward, not backward. In good times and bad times, you have to look forward. And nobody... even such a great man as Florentino, doesn't need to convince me to join Real Madrid, because for me it's an obvious choice.

Переведено ИИ.

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