Kylian Mbappe will wear the No.9 shirt during his debut season at Real Madrid before switching to a more familiar number.
After years of speculation, the worst-kept secret in football was finally concluded on Monday night when Real Madrid announced the signing of the 25-year-old on a free transfer.
The World Cup winner could not hide his delight at signing for the newly-crowned Champions League winners and cannot wait to get started in the Spanish capital.
“A dream come true,” the Frenchman posted on his social media accounts. “So happy and proud to join the club of my dream, Real Madrid. Nobody can understand how excited I am right now. Can’t wait to see you, Madridistas, and thanks for your unbelievable support. Hala Madrid.”
With the signing now officially completed, so too is Mbappe’s shirt number, according to Le Parisien.
The forward will don the No.9 shirt which has been vacant since Karim Benzema’s departure last summer.
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But he may not wear it for long as Mbappe is set to inherit the No.10 shirt, currently occupied by Luka Modric, when the Croatian calls time on his glittering career at the club.
Despite wearing the No.7 shirt during much of his time at Paris Saint-Germain, Mbappe is no stranger to the No.10 jersey having worn it with France for a number of years.
It would allow him to follow in the footsteps of footballing greats such as Luis Figo, Ferenc Puskas and Clarence Seedorf who have all donned the famous number for Real Madrid.
But it remains to be seen when he will get his hands on Modric’s shirt number with the 38-year-old set for another season at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Modric is the sole survivor of Madrid’s Champions League three-peat winning midfield following Casemiro’s switch to Manchester United in 2022 and Toni Kroos recent retirement announcement.
Like Kroos, Modric is planning to bow out at the highest level and dreams of retiring at Real Madrid.
News Summary:
- Kylian Mbappe set to wear two different numbers in two seasons at Real Madrid
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