Didier Deschamps tells Kylian Mbappé he is protecting him with absence from France squad | OneFootball

According to RMC Sport, France boss Didier Deschamps called his captain Kylian Mbappé (25) on Thursday lunchtime to inform the Real Madrid attacker that he would not be called up to his squad for the upcoming international break.

Les Bleus are preparing to face Italy and Israel as they return to UEFA Nations League action, but they will be without their captain for the second successive international break. The 25-year-old’s omission from the squad in October was deemed to be very much his decision. However, Deschamps is resolute in the fact that the latest exclusion of the Frenchman was very much his decision, stating, “I had several discussions with him, I had a think about it, and I made the decision for this specific international break.”

The France boss revealed Mbappé’s desire to be involved in the Les Bleus squad to face Italy and Israel. Nevertheless, this was taken out of his hands. During discussions between the pair, the head coach told the former PSG attacker that he aimed to ‘protect’ him with the absence.

Mbappé is currently undergoing a difficult spell at Real Madrid. Playing as a centre forward at the La Liga outfit, lots of criticism has been leveled at the French international forward, with Carlo Ancelotti’s side looking imbalanced and disjointed at the top of the pitch. Deschamps hopes that by excluding the former Monaco forward, he will be able to refind his best form and return to the squad in March.

GFFN | Liam Wraith