K. Mbappé recently gave an exclusive interview to José Félix Díaz, editorial director of AS, at Real Madrid's training ground. This was the French forward's first interview with the Spanish newspaper since joining Real Madrid, and the two discussed matters in depth. In the first part of the interview, K. Mbappé spoke about his dream of joining Real Madrid, life and peace in Madrid, the magic and pressure of playing at the Bernabéu, and his relationship with Florentino Pérez.

Journalist: Kylian, thank you very much. First of all, you've been here for two years now—two years and a few months. When that boy who dreamed of happily playing for Real Madrid finally arrived, has everything gone the way you hoped?

K. Mbappé: Yes, absolutely, it's gone exactly as I wanted. Because what I expected was the best club in the world, and I had great enthusiasm for the Merengues and everyone here. I already had a certain status before coming, but I think when you become a Real Madrid player, you always move to another level—a higher level. I think if you want to leave your mark on football history, you have to play for Real Madrid.

Journalist: That's what you feel, isn't it?

K. Mbappé: Yes, 100%. Everything I've experienced hasn't fallen short of my expectations at all. All of it—playing at the Bernabéu every week is a privilege. The great support from the fans and the backing I feel here in Spain, which I didn't expect. The love this country has shown me. I love living here. I love being here. This is the first time I've left my home country, so it's been an important time in my life. I'm happy I made this decision.

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

K. Mbappé: Much more peacefully. Much more peacefully. In France, I had less peace. I wanted to experience a new culture directly and adapt to Spanish culture more quickly. Of course, I still need time, but I think as time passes, every month that goes by, I feel better in Spain. I've never had an unhappy period here—only at the very beginning, because I didn't have a home yet. And when you don't have a home, you feel out of place and you want to go back to your own home and have your own things. But since I got a home, I've been very happy here.

Journalist: Can you go out for a stroll, as we often say in Madrid?

K. Mbappé: Yes, yes, but not much. Occasionally, but not often. Because even though I have more peace, it's still... it's normal. It's part of the job. It's part of my life. And I accept it 100%.

Journalist: But you're living well in Madrid, aren't you?

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 the image of you and your teammates walking down to the Bernabéu pitch, looking at it with admiration. Do you still feel the same way now as you did when you saw it as a PSG player?

K. Mbappé: No, it's even more. Because when you play for Real Madrid, it's a completely different feeling. And when I came with PSG, the Bernabéu was still under construction. Of course, you look at it and think it's a magnificent stadium, but it wasn't finished yet. There were parts still being built.

Journalist: What were you thinking at that moment when you walked with your teammates? We noticed it then. You know we like to use our imagination a bit, and we'd guess, "He's thinking he'll play here next year."

K. Mbappé: Yes, yes, yes. I remember it very clearly. Very clearly. The thing is, I remember that day was the day before a Champions League match, and it was very loud because the workers were building, and the noise came from above. So when we arrived, we all looked up because it felt like something might fall on our heads from above. I remember someone saying he was very excited. Yes, it's a magnificent stadium full of history. But at that moment it was really loud. But when you see it for real, when I came to Madrid for my presentation and every match I've played... I've been here for two years now, and I've never felt like "okay, I'm used to it." It's always special. Always.

Journalist: Does playing at the Bernabéu still excite you?

K. Mbappé: Always. Always. Always. Because it's a legendary stadium. You can feel the weight of history. And every match is different. Everyone forgets what happened in the past and focuses only on what's about to happen. So you always have the chance to make new history, which you don't see in every stadium in the world.

Journalist: Are you still excited every time you play at the Bernabéu?

K. Mbappé: Yes, 100%. 100%. I hope my team and I will experience many more magical Champions League nights at the Bernabéu. Because when the Bernabéu has a great Champions League night, I think there's nowhere better in the world.

Journalist: Florentino Pérez is a president who made history. How important was his involvement in you coming to play here?

K. Mbappé: Very important. Because he's the one who brought me here. I'd been in contact with him for 10 years before joining Real Madrid. He always looked out for me, and he understood the context of every decision I made, whether 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 have to thank him for everything he's done for me and everything he continues to do for me. For me, he's the best president in the world, as I've said before.

Journalist: When did you decide? Was there a specific detail that made you feel "I have to play for Real Madrid"—not as young Kylian, but as a professional player, Kilian?

K. Mbappé: To be honest, to be completely honest, no one needs to convince you to join Real Madrid.

Journalist: Right, it's not that difficult, but there must be some detail, right? Some detail?

K. Mbappé: No, no, no. It's just that in my story with Real Madrid, there was a time when I wanted to come but couldn't. In football, if you understand it the way I do, you know that sometimes things don't depend on you. You have to wait. Sometimes in football you need the right moment and all the green lights before you can move forward. Because from my perspective, everyone always knew I wanted to play for Real Madrid. I've said it many times. But sometimes if it doesn't happen, it doesn't happen. You have to accept it. And of course there's disappointment, but a footballer always looks forward, not backward. In good times and bad times, you have to look forward. And no one—not even someone as important as Florentino—needs to convince me to join Real Madrid, because for me, it's a clear choice.

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