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Why French Fans and Experts Disapprove of Mbappe

Kylian Mbappe is under fire for choosing to skip France’s UEFA Nations League matches against Israel on Thursday and Belgium on October 14, even though he’s fit to play. After sustaining a thigh injury on September 25, he returned to action for Real Madrid against Lille in the UEFA Champions League on October 3.

He came off the bench for Real Madrid in a match they lost 0-1. The 25-year-old also participated in the La Liga game against Villarreal on Saturday, which Real Madrid won 2-0. However, he has opted to miss France’s matches in October, sparking a club versus country debate. Mbappe’s choice has surprised football experts and frustrated fans. “Either you’re injured and don’t play for your club, or you’re not called up to the national team,” said Maxime Bossis, a former France international, as reported by the French sports daily L’Equipe.

“But when you come off the bench in the Champions League and you start a league game, it makes things fuzzy. He’s a special player. We’ve known that with Michel Platini when we still wanted him with us when he was injured,” he added.

“As a captain, [Mbappé] must be an example for the fans, and he has not been,” said Fabian Bonnet, a spokesperson of Irresistible Francais, the main supporters’ group of the French team.

Mbappe’s Recent Trip to a Nightclub

Recently, reports emerged of Mbappe visiting a nightclub in Sweden on the same day France played Israel last week. However, his teammate Wesley Fofana appeared to come to Mbappe’s defense. “People can do what they want with their free time,” he said during a press conference.

“It isn’t something we [the France squad] have talked about today; I hadn’t heard about this story.

“He does what he wants; he is a great guy and a great professional. Are we making too much of it? I don’t know. He’s the best French player, so it’s normal that it is very publicized.

“I think that from time to time [the media] go a little too far. You should ask Kylian Mbappé for more information,” Fofana added.

Absence of a Leader for France

Mbappe serves as the captain of the France squad. His absence, combined with Antoine Griezmann’s surprising recent retirement from international football, has created a significant gap in leadership for the French team.

The football calendar, however, is formed in such a way that club football is given more importance than national commitments unless there’s a big tournament like the FIFA World Cup. Didier Deschamps, the France manager, had made a strong statement, claiming that the “employer was the club and not the federation.”

“Kylian embodies a lot of things … The interests of the clubs and the interests of the national teams inevitably diverge. We must also remember that the employer is the club, not the federation,” Deschamps had said.

This isn’t the first instance where Mbappe has had to choose a side. Many of his fans, including French President Emmanuel Macron, expressed their desire for him to compete in the Paris Olympics. However, Real Madrid prevented Mbappe from participating.

Mbappe’s loyalty was scrutinized even though he showed interest in playing in the Olympics. The club believed they needed him more than the French team did.

Messi’s Choice Not to Participate in the Olympics

Argentine football legend Lionel Messi had previously stated before the Copa America that he would not participate in the Olympics. However, he sustained an injury after the Copa America and ended up missing the Games regardless. His announcement came prior to his injury.

Unlike Mbappe, Messi was not compelled to make a decision by his club, Inter Miami; he made it on his own. However, this season features more football matches than ever, thanks to an expanded UEFA Champions League, international fixtures, and the FIFA Club World Cup.

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