Kylian Mbappé has once again been left out of the France squad for the upcoming UEFA Nations League matches against Israel and Italy.
French head coach Didier Deschamps did not include the striker in his squad announcement on Thursday, raising questions at the press conference. However, Deschamps offered little explanation for his decision.
“Listen, I had several discussions with him, I thought about it, and I made this decision for this specific gathering,” Deschamps said. “Obviously, I think it’s better this way.”
Unlike last month’s absence, Mbappé is fit for selection. Deschamps denied that recent reports of a rape allegation against Mbappé, which have surfaced in Sweden, influenced his decision.
“I’m not going to argue about it. What I can tell you is two things: One, Kylian wanted to come. And two, it’s not about any off-field issues. The presumption of innocence exists and must be respected. It’s a one-off choice for this gathering with these two upcoming matches,” Deschamps said.
Mbappé, 25, has faced challenges making an impact since his move to Real Madrid, and Deschamps has instead called up forwards Marcus Thuram, Randal Kolo Muani, and Christopher Nkunku.
France defeated Israel 4-1 in their last meeting on October 4.
