France teammates Kylian Mbappé and Mike Maignan clear the air | OneFootball

Kylian Mbappé (26) felt targetted by a rant by France team-mate Mike Maignan (29) during the September international break, according to L’Équipe. Following that international break, Mbappé has not featured, missing Les Bleus’ last four games having not been selected by Didier Deschamps. Mbappé has now returned following his hiatus and there has been a clearing of the air with the France No.1.

In the wake of a 3-1 defeat to Italy, Maignan let his feelings be known in the dressing room post-match, criticising the commitment and behaviour of some of France’s star players, as revealed by L’Équipe. Whilst Kylian Mbappé was not named in person, the publication understands that Les Bleus’ captain was indeed a target of the rant by the AC Milan goalkeeper, as were some of the other “big stars” of the national team.

Antoine Griezmann retired in the wake of that international break and Mbappé has since lifted the lid on that now infamous international break. “That international break was difficult for both of us. We suffered a lot,” he said, referencing a “lack of gratitude” and stating that he believed the pair had been “designated guilty for things that they weren’t guilty of,” the France captain told Le Parisien earlier this week.

Maignan and Mbappé have now cleared the air, according to L’Équipe. The AC Milan goalkeeper explained to the Real Madrid forward that his message back in September was directed at the whole squad, as he felt the need to intervene. The pair are not very close, as per L’Équipe, however, they have a deep mutual respect and a shared ambition to win the FIFA World Cup in 2026.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle