Tensions could be emerging between Zinédine Zidane and Kylian Mbappé within the French national team. While the Real Madrid forward has reportedly experienced strained relationships with some of his teammates, including Ousmane Dembélé, his connection with the new France head coach is also attracting attention. According to L’Équipe, the relationship between the two men remains far from ideal.
When announcing his squad last week, Zidane suggested that Mbappé would play in his preferred attacking position during the international break. The decision follows the forward’s difficult previous gathering, when a knee injury forced him to miss most of the matches. However, L’Équipe reports that Mbappé felt uncomfortable with his positioning on the left during the previous match against Turkey, while Dembélé operated centrally. The tactical choices reportedly created some frustration for the French captain.
Communication between Zidane and Mbappé has also reportedly remained limited. According to the French newspaper, the two barely spoke during the previous training camp, although Mbappé’s illness and subsequent departure for Madrid partly explain the situation. Despite both men living in the Spanish capital, they have yet to build a closer relationship. Zidane, however, reportedly wants to improve their understanding and establish a stronger connection with his captain ahead of France’s upcoming fixtures against Italy and Turkey.
