Real Madrid superstar Kylian Mbappe’s absence from the France squad for the upcoming Nations League matches against Israel and Belgium continues to dominate headlines in the country.
The decision by manager Didier Deschamps to exclude the captain and star player has left many wondering about the reasoning behind this technical decision. More so, after Mbappe featured for Real Madrid against Villarreal.
In an effort to quell the growing speculation and refocus attention on the upcoming matches, Deschamps gave an interview where he elaborated on his rationale for not calling up the Real Madrid forward.
“One must prioritise the interest of the player without putting him in difficulties with his club,” declared Deschamps. He emphasized the need to balance club and national team interests, stating:
“The interests of clubs and the interests of national teams necessarily diverge at some point, and we must not forget that the employer is the club, not the federation.”
Deschamps further noted: “The most important thing is the interest of the player, and I know very well that he will not go against his club and does not want to go against the national team.”
The France manager acknowledged that he had a conversation with Mbappe before deciding not to include him in the squad.
“Mbappe attracts a lot of attention; we should not give it so much importance but rather see it more generally,” Deschamps added.
Concluding, the France head coach remarked: “Clubs have always resisted the idea of the player going to the national team and taking risks, and I am not here to take risks.”
Source: Mundo Deportivo