Kylian Mbappe DROPPED by France as 'one-off decision' made amid Real Madrid fury

Kylian Mbappe will get no reprieve from his Real Madrid nightmare after being DROPPED by France for their upcoming Nations League matches.

Les Bleus’ captain wasn’t included in the last round of internationals either, with boss Didier Deschamps scoffing at claims the Spanish club are influencing decisions made by international coaches and Mbappe facing criticism for supposedly turning his back on his country.

Deschamps insisted then that he had been left out due to injury - despite playing 90 minutes for Madrid in the match immediately before France’s October matches. He said: “Mbappe was not fit against Villarreal. There was no request. The decision is mine. He played the Villarreal game without being 100 per cent fit.”

And he insisted that picking players not at peak fitness was detrimental both to the player themselves and the national team, stating: “Is this good for the player and for the French team? I don’t think so. It is not the federations who pay the players. It is not just the case of Real Madrid and Kylian.”

Mbappe was then seen in a nightclub in Stockholm on the same night as France’s 4-1 win over Israel, resulting in further fury at home.

And now for the upcoming games against Israel and Italy, despite Mbappe playing the full 90 minutes in each of Madrid’s last three games - including the Bernabeu thrashing by Barcelona and Tuesday night’s Champions League loss to AC Milan - the 25-year-old again misses out.

It will lead to further questions about Mbappe’s supposed power within the national set up and whether it is correct that he only wants to play in ‘important’ matches for his country - namely, major tournaments and World Cup and European Championship qualifiers.

However, Deschamps insists that, this time, the choice is his, that it is a “one-off decision” and Mbappe has been dropped.

“I had several discussions with him, I had a think about it, and I made the decision," Deschamps said. "I can tell you two things: Kylian wanted to come, and it’s not about off-pitch issues. It’s a choice that was made for this international break, with the two matches that await us.

“It’s my decision, it’s better this way."

It comes at a time where the former Paris Saint-Germain superstar is coming under fire for his role in the Spanish capital, with the European and Spanish champions struggling to adapt to life with their summer arrival.

After last season’s success without a recognised centre-forward, Carlo Ancelotti has attempted to fit Mbappe, Vinicius Jr, Rodrygo and Jude Bellingham all into his starting lineup - with mixed results. Mbappe has scored eight times in 15 games but has largely flattered to deceive, being dropped into the side as its attacking focal point, when he would prefer to play from the left-sided position that Vinicius Jr calls home.

His display against Milan led to criticism from France icon Thierry Henry, who noted a lack of desire to run in behind defences from his countryman - subsequently leading to Bellingham making 30-40 yard runs from deep to try and stretch the play. When it was Bellingham who was substituted during the midweek defeat, the England international was noticeably furious, kicking a water bottle as he made his way to the bench.

That was something Henry noticed, and he insisted Mbappe - who had ironically been caught offside NINE times in the 4-0 destruction by Barca - needs to do ‘way more’ to help the team.

"It's always Bellingham trying to make the run, trying to make the team play, running in behind, trying to break the line," Henry said on CBS Sports Golazo. "I think there is a little frustration. Your nine isn't going, and your 10-ish is going. I know it can happen sometimes but not all the time. Every single time.

"I know he's not a No.9 and that this maybe is not what he likes to do. Do you think he likes to make those runs, try and stretch the team? He'll do it because he has to do it, because his desire speaks, his will speaks.

"You don't win games like that. You don't win games with your No.10 [Bellingham] breaking the line, coming back, trying to bend his run, trying to defend, trying to go the other side. And then after, he gets substituted?

"I would have been upset too - I saw him kicking a bottle. I would be upset also, of course. For me, this is not good enough and I don't think they are playing well as a team but on the ball also he [Mbappe] has to do way more."

Full France Squad

Goalkeepers: Chevalier, Maignan, Samba

Defenders: Clauss, Digne, W. Fofana, T. Hernandez, Konaté, Koundé, Saliba, Upamecano

Midfielders: Camavinga, Guendouzi, Kanté, Koné, Rabiot, Zaïre-Emery

Forwards: Barcola, Dembélé, Kolo Muani, Nkunku, Olise, Thuram