Kylian Mbappé, captain of the French national team and star forward for Real Madrid, has been unexpectedly left out of France’s latest squad for their upcoming Nations League matches against Italy and Israel. The decision was confirmed by France’s head coach, Didier Deschamps, when the 23-man squad was announced, sparking widespread discussion in the football world.

Deschamps explained that he reached this decision after several conversations with Mbappé, emphasizing that it was a choice made specifically for these games and should not be viewed as a permanent exclusion. “I had several discussions with him,” Deschamps noted. “I thought about it and I made this decision for this group of games. I think it’s better this way.”

He clarified that Mbappé’s absence was not related to any off-field issues and assured that the decision was based on what he felt was best for the team in this specific instance. “Kylian wanted to come,” Deschamps said, adding that it had nothing to do with “non-sporting problems” and emphasizing the importance of the presumption of innocence.

Mbappé’s absence comes at a critical point for France, who currently trail Italy in their Nations League group following a 3-1 defeat at home in September. Meanwhile, midfielder Adrien Rabiot has been recalled to the squad, and Lille’s Lucas Chevalier received his first call-up as goalkeeper, adding fresh faces to Deschamps’ lineup.

This surprising move will leave fans watching closely to see how Les Bleus fare without their star captain and whether his absence will impact their standings in the Nations League.