Kylian Mbappe’s controversy with France’s national team only grows. After not being called up for this international window despite a quick recovery from injury, a new report from Foot Mercato suggests that he only wants to play “important” games with Les Bleus as he is “targeting” the 2025 Ballon d’Or.
According to Foot Mercato, Mbappe’s absence with France didn’t have anything to do with the thigh injury he suffered in late September, as he “already warned during the last gathering that he would not be there for the one in October.” The outlet says he “would ideally only like to play important matches with the French team,” as he wants to “be all the more careful not to get injured.”
After sustaining the injury while playing in the Real Madrid-Alaves, it was expected that he was going to be out for three weeks, but he quickly recovered to make appearances in the Champions League and LaLiga. However, Deschamps said to the press that he spoke with Mbappe, and he was “not going to take risks” with him.
The situation was widely criticized in France, with former players such as Maxime Bossis and Patrice Evra questioning Mbappe’s commitment with the national team. “Either you’re injured, and you don’t play with your club and you’re not called up in the national team. But when you come off the bench in the Champions League and you start a league game. It makes things fuzzy,” said Bossis, ahead of France’s fixture against Israel.
To complicate matters for the forward, he was seen partying at a Swedish nightclub on Thursday, while his compatriots were playing against Israel (4-1). However, he received the support of both Deschamps and some of his teammates.
Deschamps defends Mbappe’s night out
The French head coach didn’t give much importance to Mbappe’s partying in Sweden. “A night out for Mbappe? Kylian is following a programme with his club, Real Madrid, so I don’t know if he went out, if he was there or not,” he said, quoted by AS.
“What I can say is that Kylian sent me a message before the match (against Israel). Afterwards, like any player of his club, he follows a programme. With or without days off. If the players have days off, they are free to do what they want,” he added.
“People can do what they want with their free time,” Chelsea defender Fofana told a news conference Saturday, according to ESPN. “He does what he wants; he is a great guy and a great professional. Are we making too much of it? I don’t know. He’s the best French player, so it’s normal that it is very publicized,” he said.