Kylian Mbappé looks to recreate Cristiano Ronaldo’s Real Madrid debut

Real Madrid start their LaLiga defence against RCD Mallorca on Sunday, the first chance for Kylian Mbappé to feature in the Spanish top flight. Mbappé scored in his first game for Los Blancos last week, a 2-0 UEFA Super Cup victory over Atalanta, but the real work for the Frenchman starts now.

“We’re at Real Madrid, we have no limit, I have no limit,” Mbappé said after the Atalanta win. “If I can score 50 goals, it’s 50. But the most important thing is to win and improve as a team, because we’re going to win as a team.”

LIVE: Follow Kylian Mbappé's Real Madrid debut

Mbappé will look to recreate the dream debut enjoyed by his hero, Cristiano Ronaldo, on his first LaLiga start. The Portuguese star scored in a 3-2 win over Deportivo de La Coruña in his first LaLiga appearance back in 2009, playing alongside fellow new signings Karim Benzema and Kaká.

Mbappé targets Madrid glory

After a decade-long pursuit, Real Madrid finally lured Kylian Mbappé to the Santiago Bernabeu this summer. The Frenchman first visited the club’s training facilities in the Spanish capital as a young teenager and he has made little secret of his desire to play for Madrid one day.

Speaking after lifting the Super Cup, Mbappé said: “I’ve been waiting for this moment a long time, to play in this shirt, with this badge, for these fans. It’s a great moment for me.”

“Winning a trophy is very important, we know that [at Madrid] we always have to win. I’m very happy, for sure with the goal, for a forward like me, being decisive in my first game, but more importantly it’s a pleasure to play.”

Real Madrid will look to ease themselves into their title defence and have a trio of relatively straight-forward games to start the season. After their opener against Mallorca, Madrid take on Valladolid and Las Palmas to end their August schedule. For Mbappé, there should be plenty of opportunities to leave a mark at his new club.