SAEDNEWS: Kylian Mbappé has returned to Real Madrid after his summer break following France’s 2026 World Cup campaign, joining the group as preparations for the new season gather pace. At the same time, a report claims the French superstar is preparing to end his long-standing relationship with Nike in favor of a less familiar sportswear brand.
According to SaedNews: Kylian Mbappé is back at Real Madrid, marking the beginning of another important chapter in the French forward’s career. After representing France at the 2026 World Cup and finishing the tournament in fourth place, Mbappé completed his summer break and returned to the club on Monday as scheduled.
The French star joined Real Madrid’s group training session as the Spanish giants stepped up their preparations for the new campaign. His return puts one of the most closely watched players in world football back at the center of the club’s preseason plans.
Mbappé’s return was not the only notable development at the training ground. New arrivals Marc Cucurella, Yann Diomande and Ibrahima Konaté also took part in the session, giving the newcomers an opportunity to meet their new teammates and experience their first training session in Real Madrid colors.
For Mbappé, however, the return carries particular significance. His summer had been dominated by international football, with France making it to the 2026 World Cup before ultimately finishing fourth. Now the focus shifts back to club football, where expectations surrounding the French forward remain extremely high.
The beginning of preseason also gives Mbappé an opportunity to reconnect with his teammates and coaching staff before Real Madrid enter a demanding stretch of preparation. The club has already scheduled two preseason fixtures, providing the squad with important opportunities to build rhythm before the competitive season begins.
Real Madrid are due to face Deportivo La Coruña in a friendly on August 12. They will then play Schalke on August 16 in their final preseason friendly, according to the information provided in the source material.
After those matches, attention will turn toward the opening round of the new La Liga season. Real Madrid are scheduled to face Espanyol on August 22, making the coming weeks particularly important as the squad works to reach full readiness.
Yet Mbappé’s return to training is only part of the story.
According to Catalan newspaper Mundo Deportivo, the France star is also preparing to bring a long-running commercial relationship to an end. The report claims Mbappé is set to leave Nike after a lengthy association with the sportswear giant.
That development could attract almost as much attention away from the football pitch as his return does on it.
Mbappé is reportedly expected to sign a lucrative agreement with a relatively unfamiliar sportswear company rather than one of the biggest names in the industry. The report specifically suggests that his next sponsor may not be Adidas, Puma or Under Armour.
If that happens, it would represent a notable change in the commercial profile of one of football’s most recognizable stars. Mbappé has long been associated with major global brands, meaning a move toward a less established sportswear name would naturally generate considerable interest.
The report does not present the identity of the potential new sponsor as a major established rival to Nike. Instead, it describes the expected destination as a comparatively unknown sportswear company that could secure a high-profile partnership with the French forward.
For now, the immediate priority is football.
Mbappé’s return gives Real Madrid another key player for the final stages of preseason. Following the long summer break and the demands of the World Cup, the Frenchman must now transition back into the club routine and prepare for the start of another competitive campaign.
The arrival of the new players also adds another layer to the preseason story. With Cucurella, Diomande and Konaté joining the group, the training ground is becoming a place where new relationships and tactical understanding can begin to develop.
The next few weeks will therefore offer an early glimpse of how the squad comes together before the pressure of competitive matches begins.
For Mbappé, meanwhile, the situation is particularly intriguing. He has returned from a major international tournament, started working with Real Madrid again and, if the Mundo Deportivo report proves correct, may soon enter a new phase away from the pitch as well.
One story concerns his footballing ambitions. The other concerns his commercial future.
Both are likely to keep attention firmly fixed on the French superstar as Real Madrid move closer to the new season.
With preseason matches against Deportivo La Coruña and Schalke ahead, followed by the La Liga opener against Espanyol, Mbappé’s return will be closely watched. Fans will be eager to see how quickly he settles back into the club environment and how the team develops around its major stars and new arrivals.
The coming weeks could therefore provide more than simply a routine preseason. They may offer the first indications of Real Madrid’s direction for the new campaign—and, away from the pitch, potentially mark the beginning of a new commercial era for Mbappé.
