Former Paris Saint-Germain star Kylian Mbappé has caused a stir in France after Didier Deschamps left the 25-year-old out of the squad for the UEFA Nations League matches against Israel and Belgium.
While Mbappé is recovering from a thigh injury, which likely played a role in his omission, it wasn’t the only factor. He was named in the squad for PSG’s match against Villarreal and even started the game before the international break.
However, the 2018 FIFA World Cup winner has faced further criticism after reports emerged that he had been spotted in a nightclub in Sweden on the night France secured a UEFA Nations League win over Israel.
For some, it might seem that the French media are blowing the situation out of proportion. Nonetheless, another former PSG player, Grégory Paisley, believes that it’s a big issue because the player is France’s national team captain and needs to lead by example.
“I think he has a responsibility to lead by example,” Paisley said Saturday on After Foot RMC. “Once you’re captain, you have a certain status within the French national team, and you have to show the way.
“This could happen to other players in the future as well. So, it’s really about the captaincy. If he hadn’t been captain, would you have reacted differently? I think it’s part of the package because he carries a certain status, one he’s kind of embraced. And, in a way, he’s probably also asked for it.
“Now, though, he needs to handle things properly and with a lot of wisdom. Up until now, he’s done well managing his career. But right now, he’s at a crossroads. He’s switching clubs, and he’s got the captain’s armband with France.
“At some point, he’ll have to ask himself the right questions, too. What’s most important for him is football, the game itself. And right now, he’s not on the pitch.”