- 13 hours ago
Mbappe’s France future revealed as peace made after Zidane war
Robin Bairner
- 29 Jan 2025 10:30 GMT
- 4 min read
Kylian Mbappe has revealed his future with the France national team after the Real Madrid star sat out Les Bleus’ four Nations League encounters in the autumn.
Mbappe caused a sensation when he requested to be dropped from France’s October international fixtures and instead went on a trip to Sweden, where he was spotted at a nightclub as his colleagues were on the field.
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Current ETV
Kylian Mbappé
F (C)
Real Madrid
Kylian Mbappé
F (C)
Real Madrid
ETV Range
€109.6M - €182.6M
Outgoing France boss Didier Deschamps subsequently dropped the 24-year-old from November’s fixtures, claiming that it was for the good of the team.
This threw into doubt Mbappe’s future with France, which he has now moved to clarify in a conversation with former president of the French FA (FFF), Noel Le Graet.
“I told Mbappe: ‘Above all, don't give up on the France team, we need you.’ He replied: ‘Don't worry, president, I'll be there with les Bleus in March and I’ll be in great shape,” Le Graet told Le Parisien.
He told me he was happy in Madrid
- Noel Le Graet on MbappeMbappe had some difficult moments when he arrived in Madrid but appears to be settling into life in Spain, as the former FFF boss confirmed.
“We chatted for a while, exchanged a few pleasantries. We were very happy to see each other and talk. I congratulated him on his level of play and everything he's doing at the moment. He told me he was happy in Madrid,” he said.
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Zidane controversy
Mbappe and Le Graet had previously been in open conflict over remarks the FFF president had given on Real Madrid and France great Zinedine Zidane in 2023.
Deschamps’ contract with France had surprisingly been renewed after the 2022 World Cup, with speculation rife that Zidane was poised to step into his shoes.
Asked if ‘Zizou’ had called him about the job, Le Graet replied: “I wouldn't even have taken his call. To tell him what? ‘Hello sir. Don't worry. Look for another club. I just agreed a contract with Didier.’”
Both Real Madrid and Mbappe attacked this statement, which Le Graet later admitted was ‘clumsy’.
Mbappe tweeted: “Zidane is France, we don't disrespect the legend like that.”
Real Madrid, meanwhile, released an official statement defending their former head coach.
“These remarks show a lack of respect for one of the most admired figures by football fans around the world and our club is awaiting an immediate correction,” the statement from Los Blancos read.
