REAL MADRID
Mbappé has first Real Madrid training session: will he play against Atalanta in the Super Cup?
Mbappé and Jude Bellingham were among seven players who started preseason on Wednesday, one week before the UEFA Super Cup in Warsaw.
The break is over for the last of Real Madrid’s holidaying stars. Kylian Mbappé, Jude Bellingham, Dani Carvajal, Fede Valverde, Aurélien Tchouameni, Ferland Mendy and Eduardo Camavinga reported for preseason training at Real Madrid City in Valdebebas at 6pm local time (12pm ET) on Wednesday, Mbappé's first ever session with his new team.
When is Real Madrid’s next match? Will Mbappé and Bellingham play?
The seven players mainly did fitness work, with the focus ensuring they are ready to play in the UEFA Super Cup against Atalanta, which will take place in Warsaw, Poland next Wednesday (14 August). From Thursday onwards, they will train with the rest of the first-team squad, who have now completed their preseason tour of the United States.
Although Mbappé, Bellingham and Co have been afforded extra time off after reaching the semifinals of either Euro 2024 or the 2024 Copa América, they shouldn’t be too far behind the rest of their teammates in terms of conditioning after following a summer program set by fitness coach Antonio Pintus. Mbappé and Camavinga have posted images and videos of private sessions they have done during their short offseason.
The seven’s mini preseason will last just one week but isn’t expected to stop them from starting the first game of what is sure to be a long season. They will each follow a specific program to ensure they get up to speed with the rest of the roster, the majority of which has played three friendly matches in the United States.
Mbappé gets to know new Madrid surroundings
Mbappé had already visited Real Madrid City on the day of his unveiling (July 16), when he was able to meet future teammates including Brahim Díaz, Thibaut Courtois and Lucas Vázquez, not involved in summer international tournaments, as well as meet head coach Carlo Ancelotti.
In a podcast hosted by John Obi Mikel, his former player at Chelsea, the Italian revealed details of his first conversation with his new French star: “I gave him a warm welcome, because the welcome he received from Real Madrid and the fans was exceptional. The second thing I told him was that he should rest, that he should go on vacation because for the players it was a very long season.”
On Wednesday, the 25-year-old returned to Valdebebas to take to the training field for the very first time.
What position will Mbappé play for Real Madrid?
The first thing Ancelotti will work on with the French star in his positioning on the field. Mbappé is expected to be Madrid’s central striker, as his no. 9 jersey suggests, although mobility is something the Italian both offers and demands from his forwards.
The former PSG attackers’ connection with Vinicius, Bellingham and Rodrygo on and off the pitch will almost certainly be key to Real Madrid’s goalscoring success.
As Vini said in an interview with Real Madrid TV: “It’s going to be amazing, I hope we can do great things together. We have to look after him and do everything possible so that he can adapt quickly.”