Real Madrid have entered the final week of their preparations before the 2024/25 season kicks off with the UEFA Super Cup clash against Atalanta.
The reigning Spanish and European champions completed their US pre-season tour and return to Madrid on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, players who were on extended vacations after their international assignments during the summer also returned to training at Valdebebas yesterday, with marquee new signing Kylian Mbappe being one among them.
Pintus very pleased with Mbappe
It was Mbappe’s first-ever training session with Real Madrid and according to French outlet L’Equipe, the club’s fitness trainer, Antonio Pintus, was left very happy with the forward’s physical condition.
Following an exhausting season with PSG, which was followed by a semi-final run at the UEFA Euro 2024, Mbappe was granted an extended break.
However, Real Madrid wanted their summer signing to be in top shape with all his explosiveness when he returns to training so that he is ready to hit the ground running right away.
To that end, Pintus, known to be a tough taskmaster, had designed a specific training programme for the 2018 FIFA World Cup winner to follow during the past few weeks.
And, it appears that Pintus was more than pleased with what what he saw from Mbappe during yesterday’s session.
Mbappe is expected to make his debut for Real Madrid in the UEFA Super Cup encounter next week against Atalanta, with manager Carlo Ancelotti already having chalked out plans to fit him into the lineup.