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Mbappe will now miss four games in a row for France after being left out of the latest national team squad
For the second consecutive international break, Kylian Mbappe will not feature for France in their upcoming Nations League clashes against Israel and Italy.
French manager Didier Deschamps remained tight-lipped on the reasons for Mbappe's absence, but his decision has led to a backlash, with fans and pundits questioning Mbappe’s commitment to his captaincy role.
Deschamps defends decision to leave out Mbappe
Speaking at a press conference to announce his squad, Deschamps addressed questions about the Real Madrid forward’s absence, insisting that his decision was deliberate and well-thought-out.
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"I had several discussions with him, and I made the decision for this specific international break," Deschamps stated.
The manager clarified that there were no off-pitch issues involved and that Mbappe was willing to play, refusing to divulge further details about his absence from the team.
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Despite Mbappe’s recent appearance for Real Madrid in their Champions League loss to AC Milan, Deschamps insisted that leaving the star out of the national squad was "better this way."
Fans question Mbappe’s loyalty
Fans, however, were unconvinced, seeing Mbappe’s second absence in a row as a signal of his questionable commitment to his captaincy role.
The backlash from fans was swift, with some labelling Mbappe a “work from home captain, as the French superstar’s absence fuelled rumours that he was attempting to negotiate which matches he plays for France
Social media erupted with jabs at the 25-year-old forward, who took over the captaincy after the retirements of Raphael Varane and Hugo Lloris.
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Mbappe was expected to be a consistent leader on the pitch, yet, his recent absences have left some fans questioning whether he is prioritising club over country.
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