Kylian Mbappe gifts his Real Madrid jersey to Rafael Nadal
What's the story
Football star Kylian Mbappe presented his Real Madrid match-jersey to Spain's tennis legend Rafael Nadal following their La Liga opener against Mallorca. This memorable encounter was captured on camera as the French forward handed over his Los Blancos jersey to Nadal in the tunnel. The 22-time Grand Slam champion is a known supporter of Real Madrid and frequently attends their matches.
Twitter Post
WATCH: An iconic moment!
Kylian Mbappé gave Rafa Nadal his Real Madrid jersey.
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) August 18, 2024
Iconic moment between two of the biggest athletes in the world.
pic.twitter.com/vSZ7zYY3aP
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Nadal's Real Madrid connection
As mentioned, Mbappe, following the match, gifted his jersey to Nadal, who was in attendance. Notably, the Spaniard has been an avid football fan, with Real Madrid being one of his favorite clubs.
Match
Real Madrid's season opener ends in a draw
Mbappe failed to score on his La Liga debut as defending champions Real Madrid were held by Mallorca on the opening day of the 2024-25 season. Mbappe, who scored on his debut for the club in Wednesday's 2-0 UEFA Super Cup win over Atalanta, saw his side be held 1-1 by Mallorca. Rodrygo handed Real the lead (13') before Vedat Muriqi equalized (53').
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Real clock this unwanted record under Ancelotti
Real have failed to win their first game of a La Liga season for the first time in six seasons under manager Carlo Ancelotti. It's also the sixth time they have started a campaign in the competition with a draw in the 21st century.
Perspective
Ancelotti expresses disappointment over team's performance
Carlo Ancelotti, the coach of Real Madrid, expressed his disappointment with the team's performance. He stated that they need to improve and learn from this match. Despite a strong pre-season run, Real Madrid will now have to regroup for their first home game of the season against Valladolid on August 25. Ancelotti and his men are hopeful of delivering a better performance in front of their home fans.