Mbappe excluded from France's Nations League squad

Rising tensions between French national team coach Didier Deschamps and star forward Kylian Mbappe have culminated in the player's exclusion from France's upcoming Nations League matches against Israel and Italy. The 26-year-old Real Madrid striker's absence has sparked widespread speculation about a deteriorating relationship between the two figures.

While official communications cite "physical issues" as the reason for Mbappe's omission, journalist Daniel Riolo from RMC suggests the decision stems from previous incidents where Mbappe appeared to disregard national team protocols. This includes an instance where he played for Real Madrid shortly after missing national team duty due to reported injury.

Reporter Romain Molina claims Mbappe has decided to step away from the national team until circumstances change with Deschamps, contradicting the coach's statement that the player had expressed interest in participating. The situation has prompted Deschamps to name Jules Kounde, N'Golo Kante, and Ibrahima Konate as potential team captains for the upcoming matches.

The rift appears to extend beyond sporting matters, with reports indicating Mbappe and his agent-mother, Fayza Lamari, feel targeted by French media criticism. This has allegedly led to an "us against the world" mentality within Mbappe's camp, further straining relations with the French Football Federation and Deschamps.

While Deschamps maintains team unity as his priority, he has hinted at a possible return for Mbappe in 2025, contingent upon improving their relationship. The situation presents a significant challenge for Les Bleus, as they face the prospect of continuing without one of their most talented players while the football community awaits resolution to this high-profile disagreement.