Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe has been left out of the France national team squad, and manager Didier Deschamps has provided clarity on the decision.
The situation surrounding Mbappe’s fitness has been uncertain since his recent involvement in Real Madrid’s midweek match. Although he was fit enough to feature in the Champions League clash against Lille, his participation was minimal.
Mbappe only played a few minutes, coming on after the score had already reached 1-0 in favour of Real Madrid, and this was after a quick recovery from an injury that had initially seemed likely to sideline him until after the international break.
Why was Mbappe omitted?
Despite his return to the pitch, concerns remain about Mbappe’s fitness. According to Deschamps, while the forward’s issue isn’t considered serious, there is a need for caution to ensure proper recovery.
As a result, Mbappe will miss out on France’s upcoming international matches, which is a relief for both the player and Real Madrid, as they focus on his full recovery.
“Kylian Mbappe’s absence from the national team list? I spoke with Kylian because his situation is still uncertain after he entered the game on Wednesday,” said Deschamps as quoted by Mundo Deportivo.
“He has a match on Saturday and there are questions, he has a problem that is not serious but he needs treatment to recover well. We will not take risks,” he added.
Unavailable for Villarreal too
Real Madrid are preparing for a busy fixture list in the coming weeks. Before the international break, they are set to host Villarreal in La Liga.
After the break, they will visit Celta Vigo and then face their arch-rivals Barcelona in the highly anticipated El Clasico on the 26th. In between, on the 22nd, Real Madrid will also have a crucial Champions League tie at home against Borussia Dortmund.
However, it appears that Mbappe is likely to miss the Villarreal match due to his ongoing recovery, but fans will be hopeful he can return in time for the Clásico and other important fixtures.