Kylian Mbappe has not been included in the France squad for the upcoming UEFA Nations League matches against Israel and Italy, as announced by head coach Didier Deschamps on Thursday.
This marks the second consecutive international break where the French national team captain has been left out of the squad. Mbappe also missed the October double-header against Israel and Belgium.
The 25-year-old was initially given a rest in October due to a minor thigh injury he sustained while playing for Real Madrid.
This break was meant to allow him time to recover, but controversy followed when Mbappe returned to play for Real Madrid shortly after, before the French team’s fixtures had even taken place.
His absence from France’s 4-1 victory over Israel and the 2-1 win against Belgium raised eyebrows, especially after reports surfaced that Mbappe had taken a short vacation to Stockholm with his entourage.
In Sweden, media outlets reported that Mbappe was being investigated in connection to an alleged rape case.
However, the player dismissed these reports as “fake news,” and his lawyer announced plans to take legal action against the claims for libel. While Swedish prosecutors confirmed an investigation had been launched, they did not name Mbappe directly.
Since then, the French star has appeared in four matches for Real Madrid, scoring one goal, but he has yet to return to his usual top form.
