The international break, however, had everything to be calm for the France team, which had firmly assured its qualification for the next World Cup after its big victory against Ukraine (4-0). Kylian Mbappé, captain of the Blues and author of a double during this meeting, had fulfilled his part of the contract before Didier Deschamps authorized him to leave the gathering. Officially injured in the ankle, the Real Madrid striker was released before the trip to Azerbaijan, leaving his teammates to manage the end of this international window without him. This anticipated absence immediately revived memories of the fall of 2024, when the Bondynois’ repeated failures in the selection had already caused a lot of ink to flow. In this particular context, his premature departure was quick to raise questions and comments. The reason given for his return was clear: persistent inflammation in his right ankle, the result of an injury sustained in early October.
However, a few hours later, social networks were on fire. On Instagram, the Drikcfootball account published photos of luggage tags in Mbappé’s name, indicating a flight from Paris to Dubai on Saturday morning. The player actually spent several days under the sun of the emirate, staying at the Atlantis The Royal hotel and going to the “Padel One” padel club. It is impossible to know if he actually played, but his simple presence in this heavenly setting, while his teammates were playing an official match, did not fail to fuel the debate. Especially since, according to the press release from the French Football Federation published on Friday, the player had to carry out medical examinations “during the day” in Madrid to evaluate his ankle. Examinations which, ultimately, never took place according to information from The Team.
No jump to Madrid was planned
Because another element quickly emerged. Contrary to what the FFF announced, Mbappé never set foot in Madrid again after leaving Clairefontaine. No passage through Valdebebas, no medical test, no consultation with the Real Madrid staff. The Spanish club, far from being moved, was perfectly calm about the state of its star striker. According to comments reported by The TeamKylian Mbappé should be back in training this Wednesday, perhaps only for treatment, before a more complete recovery on Friday. Barring any surprises, he will start on Sunday in Elche, proof that Real Madrid does not consider his physical situation to be problematic. Far from fueling the French controversy, Casa Blanca seems above all concerned with managing the mental load of its players, more than by the fluctuations of an injury considered minor.
This sequence, however, fuels the idea of a “phantom” injury, or at least of a physical glitch whose severity would be largely relative. For several weeks, Real Madrid has sought above all to preserve its player, aware of the infernal pace imposed since the start of the season and the particular climate in which Mbappé is evolving, currently involved in a complex trial opposing him to PSG. In this context, offering the attacker a few days of breathing space seems almost like an assumed strategy, far from a simple medical gesture. If the getaway to Dubai may have surprised France, on the Madrid side, it is part of a clear desire which is to protect the star, preserve his psychological balance and keep him in the best possible condition before the crucial deadlines to come. A very different vision from that which dominates in France, where each movement of Mbappé continues to cause talk.
