'Please leave him alone' - Didier Deschamps sends out Kylian Mbappe plea after leaving Real Madrid star out of France squad

Mbappe, who joined Real Madrid from Paris Saint-Germain this summer, has been left out of Deschamps' roster for the second international window in a row, sparking speculation about a potential rift between the manager and the France skipper. However, earlier the coach had clarified that it was his call alone to leave the forward out as he feels it is "better" without the 2018 World Cup winner in the fold.

During a press conference in Paris ahead of France’s high-stakes Nations League fixture against Israel, Deschamps was immediately questioned on whether he had personally discussed the issue with Mbappe. With a light-hearted response, he expressed surprise that the question had not come up sooner, then quickly added: "Listen, I told you what I told you. You are free to speak and interpret that. I have a game tomorrow, There are 23 players here. Kylian isn’t here – please leave him alone.”

Mbappe’s absence from the French squad comes amid a challenging phase in his career. Following a recent trip to Sweden during the October international break, the 25-year-old forward faced accusations of sexual misconduct, adding a layer of scrutiny around his personal life. Simultaneously, his form on the pitch has come under question, with the goalscorer yet to live up to expectations since arriving in Madrid.

With 86 international caps and 48 goals, Mbappe remains nine goals shy of Olivier Giroud’s all-time scoring record for France. However, his absence means that he won't be in action for the Les Bleus until March 2025 when the squad reconvenes for their 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

Mbappe has been making the most of his holidays and was spotted go-karting with Eden Hazard on a karting track owned by Formula One superstar and Real Madrid fan, Carlos Sainz. He will be back in action when Los Blancos make a trip to Leganes on November 24.