"I didn't feel at 100 percent" - Kylian Mbappe explains why he asked Deschamps not to call him up for France in October

Real Madrid superstar Kylian Mbappe has shed light on his absence from the French national team squad during the October international break. Mbappe last featured for Les Bleus in September and was omitted from the squad for the October and November international breaks.

In an interview with Cliquetv, Mbappe shared that he had asked France coach Didier Deschamps not to call him up in October, citing his physical and mental state. He said (via Madrid Zone on X):

"I asked Deschamps not to call me up with France because I had just arrived in Madrid, and I didn’t feel at 100%. I barely had a vacation, and I needed time to recover."

Regarding his omission from the squad for the November international break, Kylian Mbappe stated that the decision was not his own. He said (via Madrid Xtra on X):

"No France call-up in November? That was the coach’s decision. I can’t tell you why. I’m sorry. If he wants to say it, he can. I wanted to play, but the coach decided, and I respect it."

Mbappe's recent comments arrive amid a reportedly tense relationship between him and Deschamps.

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"I should have shown more love to PSG fans" - Kylian Mbappe on the seven years he spent with PSG

The Frenchman also reflected on his tumultuous yet memorable seven-year spell at Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). While the forward achieved remarkable success in the French capital, his time there was not without challenges.

Kylian Mbappe told Cliquetv (via Madrid Xtra on X):

"PSG meant a lot to me. It’s a club where everything is intense, whether it’s good or bad. I spent seven extraordinary years there. At PSG, I had problems with certain people because I was fighting for my rights."

The French national team captain also acknowledged that he could have done more to connect with the club’s passionate fan base.

"I should have shown more love to PSG fans. I never had a problem with them," he added.

Now fully committed to his new chapter in Madrid, Mbappe harbours no animosity toward his former club but made it clear where his allegiances lie when it comes to European success. He said:

"Do I want PSG to win the Champions League right now? No, I want to win with Madrid. But I wish them the best at PSG. I hope that one day they will win the Champions League. But not now, because I have to win a little."