Desailly reflects on Kylian Mbappe’s challenging dream move to Real Madrid

Marcel Desailly believes Kylian Mbappe is still living out his dream at Real Madrid, even if the journey has been more complicated than the French star might have imagined.

Mbappe is now in his second season in Spain after leaving PSG in the summer of 2024, a move long seen as the pinnacle of his club ambitions.

“I think he fulfilled his dream by joining Real Madrid. Perhaps he’s had some nightmares, though, because you move to Real Madrid and suddenly the club you support [PSG] wins the Champions League, and your best friend (Ousmane Dembele) wins the Ballon d’Or! But I think he is smart enough to maintain his passion for the game,” Desailly said.

He highlighted how explosive Mbappe’s start was after leaving Paris. “His start after leaving PSG was fantastic: 44 goals in all competitions, which is just incredible. And in Madrid, the following year, he also played at an outstanding level, but he didn’t win!” Desailly added.

For Desailly, Mbappe’s challenge now is not about proving his talent, but about turning stellar performances into major trophies in a club where success is always the minimum expectation.