Kylian Mbappé’s non-call for the second international break of the season sparked a series of debates that the French soccer team would have done without. First was his time at Real Madrid, against Villareal on October 5, five days before the Blues’ first game against Israel (4-1). However, the reason given to justify the absence of the French captain was an injury. “You have a problem that is not serious, but that requires treatment to recover well”He had wanted to justify the coach, Didier Deschamps, before the match.
Then, the photographs published by the Swedish press on Friday, October 11, which revealed an excursion by the star striker to Stockholm, the night of Les Bleus’ victory, rekindled the embers that were asking for it. A new fire that defender Wesley Fofana tried to put out the next day at a press conference, before the French team traveled to Belgium on Monday as part of the Nations League: “Everyone does what they want with their free time.” (…) [Kylian Mbappé] He is a great guy, a great professional, he manages his career the way he wants. »
A statement that points to appeasement and that found echo in the comments of the Mattéo Guendouzi community, also invited to speak on the subject: “There is no question of his attachment to the French team, with everything he has already done. (…) We have no doubts about Kylian. We spoke to him on the phone before the game, we spoke to him by message, he is very close to us and to the French team. We were disappointed that he wasn’t there to help us. »
“Every once in a while you make a little effort.”
In addition to his various summer soap operas – his adaptation to Spain or the persistent tensions with his former club, Paris Saint-Germain (2017-2024) – the 25-year-old forward continues to suffer from his status as a star. This constant media attention was denounced by his teammates. “I don’t know if we are doing too much with Kylian, but from an outside opinion, I think from time to time, [les médias] go a little hard”noted Wesley Fofana. Followed by Mattéo Guendouzi: “We have to stop talking about him too much, we live from that too, from talking about him every day. »
The mere absence of the Blues captain is not enough to explain the resentment felt by part of the French team’s fans. The failure in the semifinals of Euro 2024 against Spain (1-2), the game defended and the position occupied by Didier Deschamps (in office since 2012), as well as the surprising international retirement of Antoine Griezmann form a group capable of lighting up with the slightest spark. Even so, the Tricolores will have to quickly refocus on sport, as they will travel to Brussels on Monday to face the Red Devils, determined to take revenge, after the defeat on September 9 (2-0) and their elimination in round of 16 of the European Nations Championship (0-1) this summer.
