Kylian Mbappé has opened up about the pivotal career decision he made at 18, detailing why he chose to sign with Paris Saint-Germain over his long-time “dream” club, Real Madrid, citing the Spanish giants’ star-studded forward line at the time.
The comments shed light on the initial delay in his move to the Santiago Bernabéu, which finally materialized last year.
Playing Time Was The Priority
Mbappé explained that his ultimate priority as a teenager was regular playing time, a guarantee he felt was impossible at Real Madrid due to the legendary attacking trio already in place.
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“When I left Monaco, at eighteen years old, I was completely clear about my desire to play… and Real Madrid had Benzema, Cristiano, and Bale. I didn’t want to sit on the bench,” the French forward stated.
He acknowledged the interest from the Spanish club, but insisted his instinct told him a starting spot wasn’t assured.
“All the clubs in Europe told me I would play for their teams, but I knew that Real Madrid, with all due respect, wouldn’t be able to play me in every match.”
The Pride of Playing in Paris
The decision to join PSG in 2017—initially on loan from Monaco—was driven by the twin factors of regular football and the emotional appeal of his hometown club.
“I was given the opportunity to play at home, in Paris, and it was a fantastic opportunity for me,” he said, reflecting on his seven-year spell with the club. “The pride of playing in your city is something very special.”
Childhood Dream Finally Realized
Mbappé reaffirmed that his long-held desire to play for the 15-time European champions never faded despite his time in Paris.
“Of course, I had the dream of playing for Real Madrid, but playing regularly is a great honor… But of course, I still have the dream of playing for Real Madrid, because it’s been with me since I was little. And I achieved it last year. I’m very happy.”
The current Real Madrid star’s comments provide a clear explanation for the multi-year transfer saga, highlighting that his 2017 decision was a strategic move to prioritize his development on the pitch.
Mbappé’s decision to prioritize playing time in 2017 is starkly illustrated by the numbers. In the season prior to his move (2016-2017), Real Madrid’s fearsome attacking trio of Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, and Gareth Bale averaged an astounding 116 total appearances across all competitions, scoring a combined 78 goals as they clinched La Liga and the Champions League double.
Had Mbappé, then a breakout star from Monaco, joined that summer, he would have been competing for a starting spot against three established, world-class forwards in their prime.
By contrast, his move to PSG guaranteed him a primary role: he went on to make 44 appearances in his first season (2017-2018), directly contributing to 44 goals (21 goals, 23 assists) and immediately becoming a focal point of the team—a foundation he clearly felt was essential for his rapid development.
This initial foundation allowed Mbappé to amass a phenomenal statistical legacy over his seven seasons at PSG.
He departed as the club’s all-time leading goalscorer with 256 goals in 308 matches, holding a goal-per-game ratio of approximately 0.83.
This prolific run cemented his status as a global superstar and ensured that when he eventually made his long-awaited dream move to Real Madrid last year, he arrived not as an unproven prospect, but as one of the game’s elite players.
The numbers ultimately confirm his initial career choice: prioritizing consistent minutes resulted in the stellar production that prepared him to take the main stage at the Bernabéu.
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