French team: internal tensions around Kylian Mbappé?

He’s the boss. Whether at Paris Saint-Germain or in the French team, Kylian Mbappé is much more than just a player. From his performance on the pitch to his influence off the pitch, the French international (72 caps, 42 goals) leaves no one indifferent. It was enough to see the impatience created around his speech, he who had not taken part in press conferences since June 15. Appointed captain of the Blues since the international retirement of Hugo Lloris, the Parisian striker was therefore logically expected this Friday, on the sidelines of the match against Gibraltar, counting for qualifying for Euro 2024.

A silent captain… and very attentive!

However, in front of journalists and despite a deafening silence of several months, the 24-year-old Habs put on a show. Combining humor, tranquility and firmness, the former Monegasque passed this new test with flying colors. Renowned for being a good communicator, Mbappé has once again proven it. A desire to share leadership to justify his silence. The country before the club. The collective before its future. All the ingredients were there. Enough, almost, to forget that the number 7 of the reigning French champions remains a player apart. Yes, but his influence, as great as it is, no longer needs to be proven. Under the Ile-de-France jersey and/or with the tricolor tunic, the 1m78 right-hander has a voice that counts, perhaps more than the others.

Questioned about this alleged power of his protégé, Didier Deschamps preferred to laugh about it. “Are you serious about recovery? (influence on choices, editor’s note) Okay.. The relationship is very good between the two of us and it is very good for the collective. He has this responsibility to engage the entire group as captain. It’s something that doesn’t weigh on him. He takes pleasure. It’s a role that he appreciates because he has this ability to achieve unanimous support, like Antoine. Any influence on my choices? He doesn’t even come! He is a player, but at no time does he or anyone else tell me ‘he should play’ yes ‘he should not play’, assured, in this capacity, the French coach. A clear media release which will not, however, diminish the significant weight that the 2018 world champion can have.

Too strong an influence causing tensions?

In this context, The Team returns, in today’s edition, to the long negotiations of the new charter of image rights. The opportunity for the French daily to recall the great influence of Kylian Mbappé with the Blues. And for good reason. If new rules were finally enacted, these changes are, first of all, linked to the pressure put by the 24-year-old player in recent months. The media also specifies that the speeches and/or positions of the person concerned remain more than ever listened to and are “often feared by the FFF and by the staff of the French team”. Regarding image rights, The Team then brings new information…

If Kylian Mbappé had been the first to step up and his clan was then a central player in the negotiations with the FFF before the signing of a new agreement, this reality would, however, not have been to the taste of everyone around the Blues. Thus, the entourage of senior players of the French team would not have failed to emphasize, subsequently, that the changes which had been decided favored, above all, the number 10 of the reigning vice-world champions. A noted influence which could therefore be the origin of some tensions or disagreements within the France group. One thing is certain, before challenging Gibraltar, this Saturday at 8:45 p.m., then Greece, next Tuesday, Kylian Mbappé proves once again that his status as an extraordinary player, part of a club destined to win the Champions League and captain of a selection with overflowing ambitions, cannot leave you unmoved.