France’s national team coach Didier Deschamps has announced that Kylian Mbappe will not feature in the squad for their upcoming UEFA Nations League matches against Israel and Italy.
Deschamps emphasized that this exclusion is a “one-off” decision, intended to allow the Real Madrid forward more time to regain full fitness following recent injury concerns.
This choice follows Mbappe’s absence from France’s October squad, where he was also sidelined as a precaution.
Despite scoring eight goals in 15 appearances since his transfer to Real Madrid from Paris Saint-Germain this past summer, Mbappe has struggled to maintain his usual form.
In his last five matches, he has found the net only once, sparking discussions around his fitness and form.
Deschamps revealed that he and Mbappe discussed the decision and that the 25-year-old star expressed his desire to rejoin the squad.
The French captain, a key figure in the 2018 World Cup-winning team with 48 goals across 86 caps, had hoped to make his return in these matches.
Nonetheless, Deschamps reassured fans and the media that the forward remains central to his plans and is expected to rejoin the team soon.
Meanwhile, Real Madrid, where Mbappe currently plays, has faced a challenging season, trailing La Liga leaders Barcelona by nine points and recently enduring a tough 4-0 loss to their arch-rivals.
