Mbappé out against Italy, Zidane hopes to have him back Sunday against Turkey

Kylian Mbappé is out for the Nations League match between France and Italy on Thursday evening at San Siro. Zinédine Zidane announced it at the start of his pre-match press conference in Milan: the France captain has a hamstring problem and will take no risks.

“We must take zero risk, regardless of the player. It’s always regrettable to lose players, but that’s part of the game,” said the manager. Zidane was nonetheless reassuring about the severity of the injury: “I think it’s simply a minor issue, something light. I hope it will be fine for Sunday,” against Turkey in Bordeaux.

The fact that Mbappé remained in the squad is, according to Zidane, a sign of his intact motivation. “The fact that he stays with us shows that he wants to play Sunday. He’s obviously not happy about not being able to play tomorrow. He would have liked to take part in this match as well.” The manager nonetheless insisted on his approach: as soon as a player signals the slightest physical concern, he takes no risks, regardless of the importance of the match or the player involved.

This absence comes in an already difficult context for Mbappé, who has faced several controversies in recent weeks and saw the Ballon d’Or slip away from him. Zidane preferred to sidestep questions about his captain’s mood: “I think he’s doing well.” A terse response that did not dispel concerns about the Real Madrid player’s state of mind.

The manager also placed this absence in the context of an overloaded schedule. “The November period is particular. There’s the league, the Champions League added to the international breaks. We must accept this situation. It’s very difficult for a manager, but we have no choice. The player’s health comes first.” Several other absences have already affected this gathering, confirming the usual tensions between clubs and national teams during this time of year.