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Real Madrid and France superstar Kylian Mbappe has received support from international teammate Ibrahima Konate. The Liverpool defender expressed concern over the spotlight on the star forward.
Konate leaped to Mbappe’s defense in a press conference ahead of France’s UEFA Nations League match against Israel. He claimed that the attention the former Paris Saint-Germain star is receiving is bound to take a toll on any player.
“Sometimes I put myself in his shoes, and if I had all this hype around me, I don’t know if I would have held on,” Konate said.
“He managed to do it and he continues to do it. He may have a psychological breakdown in his life, I have no idea, but I would like to discuss it with him. But you have to put yourself in his shoes. Everything that revolves around him is. He has no life! He has no life! And it must be hard for him,” he added.
Kylian Mbappe joined Real Madrid from Paris Saint-Germain on a much-publicized free transfer in the summer transfer window, which left the French football fans sour. Captaining the national team was his solace to keep the fragile relationship alive but due to recent developments, fans are up in arms against him.
The versatile forward was left out of the France squad by manager Didier Deschamps owing to injury concerns. However, before the international break, he came off the bench in Real Madrid’s Champions League game against Lille before starting their LaLiga match to Villarreal.
Mbappe’s absence from the French squad but readiness to play for Los Blancos has left French fans fuming. They expressed their displeasure by booing the former PSG star during the Merengues’ Champions League defeat away to Lille.
Konate expressed his shock at the booking by Lille fans, comparing his reception on his return to France with Mbappe’s.
“I don’t understand why he [Mbappe] is being booed in Lille. When I played against Toulouse with Liverpool [in the Europa League last season], they gave me an exceptional welcome. The Liverpool players really thought that I had played with Toulouse in my career. I think he is over that, but it must not be easy to experience that in his country, it’s weird all the same,” he said.
Kylian Mbappe is going to stay in Spain during the international break in order to continue his rehabilitation after his injury setback.
Aurelin Tchouameni to captain France in Real Madrid ace Kylian Mbappe’s absence
Kylian Mbappe has been left out of France’s squad for their UEFA Nations League matches against Israel and Belgium. In his absence, speculation was rife around who would captain the national team.
Mbappe’s Real Madrid teammate Aurelin Tchouameni has been named as Les Blues captain for their upcoming matches. The midfielder is part of the leadership group of Didier Deschamps’ France squad alongside defender Jules Kounde and goalkeeper Mike Maignan.
France host Israel on Thursday, October 10, before travelling to Brussels to face Belgium on Monday, October 14.
Edited by Samya Majumdar