France fans were left scratching their heads when Kylian Mbappe, the national team's captain, was left out of the squad for the UEFA Nations League fixtures.
With Mbappe playing for Real Madrid just days before, rumors started swirling about whether the Spanish giants had a hand in the decision. But now, Didier Deschamps has set the record straight.
Mbappe, who joined Real Madrid in a blockbuster move, featured in Madrid’s 2-0 win over Villarreal before the international break, even though he wasn’t at full fitness.
Deschamps, however, chose to omit the star from the France squad, leading to speculation that the Blancos were influencing the decision. Fans were left wondering — was Mbappe prioritizing club over country?
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Deschamps clears the air: No Madrid meddling
Deschamps wasted no time addressing the elephant in the room. “Mbappe was not fit against Villarreal. There was no request.
The decision is mine,” the France coach told reporters. “He played the Villarreal game without being 100 percent fit.” It seems like Madrid had no say in the matter, and Deschamps made the call based on Mbappé’s health, not pressure from the club.
With Mbappe nursing a thigh injury, Deschamps explained why he chose to sit him out. “Is this good for the player and for the French team? I don’t think so,” he said. Deschamps made it clear that taking risks with an unfit player, especially someone like Mbappe, could do more harm than good.
Teammate Aurelien Tchouameni, who has stepped up as France’s captain in Mbappe’s absence, echoed Deschamps’ words, denying any pressure from Madrid. “There is no pressure from the club,” Tchouameni said, adding that it was purely a matter of Mbappe’s fitness.
So, Real Madrid fans can breathe easy — there’s no club-vs-country drama here, just a careful decision to protect one of football’s brightest stars.
