At the insistence of Real Madrid and in agreement with coach Didier Deschamps, Kylian Mbappe did not respond to the national team call-up for the October matches against Israel and Belgium in the Nations League. While his absence was not a major blow to the team — Israel was easily defeated 4-1 without him — the decision has disappointed the French public.Instead of setting an example for others, Mbappe requested to be excused from the mentioned matches to rest and prepare for upcoming challenges with Real Madrid. There’s no doubt that Real Madrid had significant influence over this decision, considering that the French striker recently recovered from an injury and is still working to regain the form for which he was brought to Santiago Bernabeu.##NAJAVA_MECA_8405644##Deschamps tried to convince the public not to question Mbappe’s patriotism and commitment to the national team, stating that he agreed to the arrangement. However, the Real Madrid star made matters worse by allowing himself to be seen and photographed in Stockholm. Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet published photos of Mbappe leaving a restaurant with friends, and it was reported that he later went to one of the nightclubs in the Swedish capital.It’s not uncommon for footballers who are not on national duty to use their days off during international breaks for rest, often spending time with family and staying out of the public eye. But Mbappe’s decision to visit Stockholm is not the usual choice — especially considering the reaction from the French public after he did not join the national team.Kylian Mbappé på plats i Stockholm https://t.co/mTzFO9yGba— Sportbladet (@sportbladet) October 11, 2024
