Kylian Mbappe: Real Madrid star opens up on Vinicius Jr, Lamine Yamal and Jose Mourinho

Kylian Mbappe says he has found greater peace since joining Real Madrid and believes playing for the Spanish club is essential for any player who wants to become part of football history.

In an exclusive interview with Spanish newspaper AS, the France forward discussed his move to Madrid, his relationship with club president Florentino Perez, his ambitions at Real Madrid and the competition with Barcelona. He also spoke about Vinicius Jr, Jude Bellingham, Lamine Yamal, his former club Paris Saint-Germain and Jose Mourinho.

Mbappe said he had always wanted to play for Real Madrid but accepted that the move had not been possible earlier in his career.

“I was waiting for the best club in the world, and to receive the enthusiasm and love of Real Madrid supporters around the world,” he said.

“I already had a certain status when I arrived, but becoming a Real Madrid player takes you to another level. If you want to become part of football history, you have to go through Real Madrid.”

The 26-year-old said life in Spain had brought him a greater sense of calm than he experienced in France, while moving abroad for the first time had also allowed him to learn a new culture.

He admitted he was unhappy only during the initial period, when he did not yet have a home and wanted to return to his family. Once he had settled, he said he had been happy in Madrid and Spain.

Playing at Santiago Bernabeu every week had been “100%” as good as he expected, Mbappe added, while praising the support he had received throughout Spain. He described every appearance at the stadium as a privilege because of its history and status.

Mbappe credited Florentino Perez with bringing him to the club, saying the pair had remained in contact for the 10 years before his arrival. He said the president had shown affection and understanding regardless of whether his decisions had benefited Real Madrid.

“He always told me I would play for Real Madrid one day, and now I am here,” Mbappe said. “He is the best club president in the world.”

The forward said no-one, not even Perez, had needed to persuade him to join. However, he added that football was shaped by timing and decisions beyond a player’s control.

Mbappe also praised the four managers he has worked with, saying each had taught him something different about the game. He singled out Mourinho, describing him as one of the most intelligent people he had met, a leader and an exceptional manager whose influence had shaped his era.

Mourinho had not set him a target for the number of goals he should score, Mbappe said. Instead, he had simply asked him to score.

The France captain said he did not set personal limits or a fixed target because doing so could place boundaries on what he might achieve. His priority was to help the team in every match, whether he scored many goals or fewer than expected.

On the Ballon d’Or, Mbappe said the outcome was not entirely in his hands. His role was to perform well, help his team-mates and convince the voters.

He added that his main wish was for the award to return to Real Madrid, saying the club and its supporters deserved it. As a Real Madrid player, he said, he had to compete for every prize and would fight to bring the Ballon d’Or back to Santiago Bernabeu.

Mbappe said the club’s immediate focus was building collective victories and trophies during the second half of the season. Real Madrid could not remain inactive for six months and then expect to win everything, he warned.

The team needed to stay united, work with the manager and the club, and prove its ambitions on the pitch.

On the relationship between team-mates, Mbappe said social media often created unnecessary speculation, with a missed handshake or smile quickly becoming a talking point. He said the important thing was Real Madrid and that the players tried to prevent false stories from developing.

He said Vinicius Jr and Bellingham were very different players who offered different qualities, adding that he could combine well with Bellingham in some situations and with Vinicius Jr, Arda Guler, Brahim Diaz, Diomande or Espi in others.

Mbappe predicted that Espi would score many goals because he had a special relationship with the goal. He also said the quality of players such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Zinedine Zidane and Ronaldo Nazario never disappeared, adding that they were Real Madrid icons who had given the club and its supporters so much.

The forward described Diomande as a highly talented 19-year-old with the potential for a major career. He said the squad had seen his quality from his first day at Valdebebas and was trying to protect him, as well as every other player, because Real Madrid would need everyone during a long season.

Mbappe said it was unfair to judge Diomande only by the discussion surrounding his €140m fee. The player had already shown that he possessed outstanding ability, he added.

Looking ahead to the derby, Mbappe said it was a match Real Madrid always wanted to play because of its tension and importance to the supporters. He particularly enjoyed playing away from Santiago Bernabeu, where he believed the players’ character became most visible.

Real Madrid wanted to continue its winning run through sacrifice, commitment and personality, he said.

Mbappe accepted the club’s supporters were demanding more after Real Madrid won no trophies last season. However, he said success would not be possible without their support.

“We need the Bernabeu now, because it is the best stadium in the world and we have the best supporters in the world,” he said. “When they are with us, we are much stronger.”

He added: “If we want to win trophies, we cannot do it without them. What I ask is that we move forward together, hand in hand. That way we will be much stronger.”