- Kylian Mbappe has had a whirlwind start to his Real Madrid career this season
- He was also an absentee in Didier Deschamps’ last France squad in October
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Kylian Mbappe has been left out of the France squad by Didier Deschamps, despite the player telling his boss that he wanted to join the side.
Mbappe has endured a mixed start to his life at Real Madrid, having finally arrived in the Spanish capital following a transfer saga that feels as though it is already a number of years old.
Despite six goals and an assist in 10 LaLiga games so far – perfectly good numbers at any other side – he has come under pressure for his performances.
This was then followed by a rape allegation made against the Real Madrid player in Stockholm, which took place at the hotel where he was staying over the international break, one which he strenuously denies.
He had been linked to the incident by the Swedish media, despite no names being officially connected to the case, with the player and his legal representatives dismissing the allegation as ‘slanderous’.
Mbappe had previously turned down his last call up in October after suffering an injury, electing instead to focus on his recovery from a hamstring injury, which did not go down too well in France.
This time round, however, he is believed to have told Deschamps he was keen to join up, only to be left out in the cold in a huge shock.
‘I had a couple of talks with Mbappe, and I took the decision to leave him out this time,’ said the Les Bleus head coach.
‘Two things: Mbappe wanted to come, and it’s nothing to do with any court issue.’
He added: ‘We may not agree on everything. These are discussions that I can have with the players. I am not here for the players to tell me that I am the most beautiful and the best. I listen. I have always fed off these discussions, whether individual or collective, protecting all the players.’
‘That’s why I can have a lot of discussions that can go beyond the purely field sphere, because they know very well that we know who spoke if something comes out.
‘These exchanges are important to me. With hindsight, tranquility, as much lucidity as possible, I make the decisions that seem to me to be the best.’
