Tens Of Thousands To Welcome Kylian Mbappe To Real Madrid

Still celebrating Spain's Euro 2024 triumph, Real Madrid fans will have even more to cheer Tuesday as French superstar Kylian Mbappe is officially presented to a packed-out Santiago Bernabeu stadium. With an expected attendance of 85,000, the stadium will be packed to the rafters for Mbappe's first appearance before fans in what should beat the record set 15 years ago by Cristiano Ronaldo. Although the tickets are free, they were snapped up rapidly with some fans reportedly trying to resell them to take advantage of the hype surrounding the arrival of the world's best striker.

During the morning, Mbappe will sign his new five-season contract with Real president Florentino Perez before entering the stadium at midday (1000 GMT) to greet fans after which he will hold a press conference.

Although his new teammates began training on Monday, the striker, who captained France during the Euros, will have a few more days off before kicking off his season in the Spanish capital.

Club medics will want to examine his nose which was broken during France's 1-0 win over Austria on June 18 during the group stage, although France were later knocked out in the semi-finals by Spain.

For Mbappe and Real Madrid, it is the culmination of a long-awaited liaison. 

The 25-year-old -- who says he has always been a fan of Los Blancos and of Ronaldo -- will wear the number 9 shirt which went on sale last Thursday in Real's shops which are covered with his image.

'Excitement and humility'

Coming from Paris Saint-Germain, who he joined in 2017, Mbappe arrives after a disappointing Euros campaign for him personally where his star image was overshadowed by that of Spain's new teenage sensation Lamine Yamal.

And it comes after a difficult season with