Inside Mbappe and Dembele's relationship: Insiders in French camp reveal 'growing' tension

French stars Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele’s relationship has reportedly grown ‘frosty’ amid a dispute over this year’s Ballon d’Or award.

The attacking duo have previously enjoyed a close relationship to the benefit of the French national team, but concerns have been said to have been raised over the distance between them during Zinedine Zidane’s first camp as head coach.

According to RMC Sport, the tension between the pair has stemmed from Mbappe’s comments in the build-up to this year’s Ballon d’Or award ceremony.

When it was put to Mbappe that ten years ago few would have expected Dembele to win the honour ahead of him – having claimed the prize last year – the Real Madrid star responded: ‘But he has always been seen as a talented player. I, on the other hand, have always been seen as the chosen one.

‘I was at the top right away, from a very young age. He had a different journey, with injuries, but he has caught up really well.’

Dembele appeared to reference Mbappe’s ‘chosen one’ remark in a subsequent interview, stating: ‘I've always been like that, you know, at the back of the class, working hard.’

‘Throughout my career, I haven't said a word, I've just worked, incredibly hard. Like I said, I've never been chosen, but I've worked incredibly hard.

‘Last year, I was rewarded for a fantastic year with PSG. This year, we'll see. No pressure, relaxed.’

While Mbappe has been open about his view that he should win the Ballon d’Or this year, Dembele put forward his PSG team-mate Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, suggesting his performances have been ‘burned into the retina’.

His remark mirrored previous language used by Mbappe when players have been in contention for the Ballon d’Or.

Despite Mbappe insisting there is no rift with Dembele, RMC reported people who know them around the French set-up have identified a clear difference in their relationship on previous training camps to this one.

The pair have been seen sitting next to each other and talking, but it is claimed there is a ‘chill between them’ and that their relationship is ‘not the same as before’.

According to the report, the French national team do not consider the situation a cause for concern at this stage, with national team captain Mbappe and vice-captain Dembele both acting and delivering professionally at this stage.

It is claimed the relationship between the two stars will be monitored to ensure there is no impact on the dynamics in the national team.

The tension could prove an early test for Zidane, who will take charge of his first match as France head coach on Friday when they face Turkey in the Nations League.

Zidane succeeded Didier Deschamps following France's fourth-placed finish in the World Cup this summer.

Deschamps had served as France head coach for 14 years and guided them to World Cup glory in 2018.