Kylian Mbappe speaks for first time since joining Real Madrid – 'Luis Enrique saved me'

New Real Madrid signing Kylian Mbappe came out firing in his first press conference since joining Los Blancos. The 25-year-old striker explained that he was under the impression that he would not be playing for the whole of this season, and just doing so was an achievement in his eyes.

Before answering the questions in the preparation of France for a friendly with Luxembourg, Mbappe he explained that he was happy to go to the Spanish capital for Brand.

“Before starting this press conference, I just wanted to say a few words. Everyone has heard the news: it's official, I will be a Real Madrid player for at least the next five seasons. It's an immense pleasure, a dream It's a reality. I'm very happy, relieved and extremely proud. This is the club I've always dreamed of. I'm very excited to go to this great club. I am very humbled by the prospect and I want to thank all the people who sent me messages and everyone who contributed to this operation.”

He also described it as the toughest year of his career at Paris Saint-Germain, citing a turbulent start to the year as he was left out of PSG's pre-season tour, after refused to renew his contract with the club.

“It's a big relief, I'm very happy, and I think it shows on my face. I played a lot less at the end of the season and everyone knows why. That's how you have to adapt when you're an elite player. It's no excuse for me in this Euro. I'm trying to get back in the best shape possible and I want to help the France team and try to take the cup home.

“I think I approached this season with a different ambition, with different requirements, because I always thought I wasn't going to play. As soon as I played, it was already a successful season. Although I had better seasons, this was the most difficult to play and I'm proud to have played. Technically it wasn't that good, but when I see what I had to go through, I feel happy and I think it's the best season of my career.”

Mbappe confirmed that he had been told he would spend the season in the stands, before the intervention of Luis Enrique and Sporting Director Luis Campos.

“They made me understand, they told me to my face, they spoke to me violently, they told me. Luis Enrique and Luis Campos saved me. Without them I would not have returned to the field. It is the truth, and that's why I've always been so grateful to the coach and the sports director. I think I'm the best person to analyze my performances, so it's true that my level of demand is lower the fact of playing was a great source of pride. But it is certain that next year I will not be happy for such a year.”

He was not ready to say that he was unhappy at PSG either, and he distanced himself from the idea that he was kept in the club against his will.

“At PSG I was not unhappy, that would be spit in the soup. There are things that made me unhappy, but there are things that cannot be shown because I was a leader and do not follow someone who is depressed. It would be bad form to go out and talk about them, saying I was unhappy at PSG, but there are things that made me unhappy and I didn't settle for a year like that.”

“There is a lot of pressure, but there are more serious things in life. This is still football. to play football. There are people who earn much less to work in factories. It is quite inappropriate for me, Kylian Mbappe, to complain to the world when horrible things happen in the world.”

The French superstar is likely to be unveiled to fans and media in July after the Euros have concluded for France and Spain. Mbappe's signing has been hailed as perhaps the biggest in the club's history in terms of media impact, and certainly the biggest since Cristiano Ronaldo's arrival from Manchester United in 2009.