October 15, (THEWILL) – France national team coach, Didier Deschamps, has responded to recent reports concerning captain, Kylian Mbappe. The 25-year-old striker, who plays for Real Madrid, has been the subject of media attention following allegations published in Swedish newspapers.
Deschamps addressed the situation after France’s 2-1 victory against Belgium in the UEFA Nations League. He expressed concern about the negative atmosphere surrounding the team, urging caution when reporting on such sensitive matters. The coach emphasised the importance of verifying information before publication.
The controversy arose when Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet reported an alleged rape incident without naming the accused. Subsequently, another publication, Expressen, identified Mbappe as the suspect. The player has strongly denied these claims, dismissing them as false information.
Mbappe’s absence from recent national team fixtures had already been a topic of discussion. The striker was granted permission to miss games this month to focus on his fitness, a decision that sparked debate prior to France’s match against Israel last Thursday.
Deschamps refrained from discussing the matter directly with Mbappe, stating that the player is capable of handling his own communications.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
