Kylian Mbappé set for Real Madrid return in final pre-season friendly | OneFootball

France captain Kylian Mbappé returns up front for Real Madrid on Sunday against Schalke 04 at 17:00, the club’s final warm-up before his third season. He goes in seeking the major silverware that has so far eluded him in Madrid.

The past two summers have begun the same for Mbappé, truncated preparations and an undimmed hunger for top honours. He has lifted only two trophies in 2024, the UEFA Super Cup and the Intercontinental Cup.

With the disappointment of France’s World Cup semi-final defeat by Spain, 0-2, partly behind him, he resumed training on Monday and is in the squad for Schalke. The new staff have been impressed by his fitness, sharpness and accuracy.

New coach José Mourinho already planned to build around him, a view reinforced by Mbappé’s World Cup and early sessions. Mbappé finished top scorer with 10 and has 86 goals in 103 Real games over the past two seasons. Mourinho and Mbappé spoke almost daily this week, and he now needs Vinicius and Jude Bellingham to service their finisher.

“It is very positive to have a coach who knows how to win and the direction to take to get there,” Mbappé said to Real Madrid TV.

“Now it is time to take the next step and win trophies. I am sure we will do it this year. At Real you must win trophies, and that is why I am here.”

He brought his return forward by two days, and Real start La Liga next Saturday in Barcelona against Espanyol at 21:30.

Source: L'Équipe

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