"Going through a slightly more delicate period" - FFF president on Kylian Mbappe's omission from France squad for Nations League fixtures

French Football Federation president Philippe Hamidou Diallo has spoken on Kylian Mbappe’s exclusion from the France national squad that was selected for the November international break. Diallo claimed Mbappe is one of the best players in the world but he is going through a difficult time at the moment.

Les Bleus coach Didier Deschamps left Kylian Mbappe out of the France squad that will play against Israel and France in the last group games of the Nations League. The former Paris Saint-Germain man was also excluded from the squad in October.

Since joining Real Madrid in the summer, Mbappe has struggled for form. His consecutive omissions from the national team squad have also added to his woes. However, Hamidou Diallo has looked into his situation and shared his thoughts about it. He told Le Parisien:

"[Mbappe] spoke a lot with Didier Deschamps. I have a close relationship with the coach, so I was kept informed of their discussions and Didier's thinking. It is the fruit of these discussions that led him to make a choice. Kylian is one of the best players in the world.

"He is going through a slightly more delicate period, but the wish, I think, of all football lovers, is that he gets out of it as quickly as possible, that he becomes again the player who made us dream in 2018 and in 2022, that he finds the Blues, the captain's armband, and that he leads us towards the 2026 World Cup and the search for a third star.

He added:

"I want to immediately dispel this idea: every time I've spoken to him, I've always seen in Kylian a lover of the French team, respectful of the jersey he wears. I have no doubt about his full and complete involvement, nor about his behavior as captain and towards the group. It can happen that you feel a little less good, and the only wish I express is that he returns as quickly as possible to his place, at the head of the French team."

Kylian Mbappe has contributed eight goals and two assists in 16 games across competitions for Real Madrid this season.

---

"I already said what I had to say’’ – France coach shuts down Kylian Mbappe talks

Didier Deschamps has refused to elaborate on why Kylian Mbappe was left out of the French squad. After it was revealed that Deschamps didn't include Mbappe in his squad for the November break, he said it was his decision not to include the Real Madrid forward.

Given Mbappe’s status in the French national team, his absence, not due to injury nor non-sporting reasons, has raised eyebrows. Dechamps’ indefinite response to the 25-year-old’s absence did not give any clarity on the issue. Speaking again on Wednesday (November 13), the Les Bleus manager remained cagey about Mbappe’s continued absence. He said (via Fabrizio Romano);

“Why Mbappé out? I already said what I had to say. There are 23 players here and that’s it. Kylian is not here, leave him alone”.

Despite the rough spell, Kylian Mbappe is currently going through, he will undoubtedly go down as one of France’s greatest players. He led them to the 2018 World Cup triumph and the 2022 World Cup final. He's recorded 48 goals and 35 assists in 86 games for them.