Kylian Mbappe has been left out of France’s squad for their upcoming UEFA Nations League fixtures against Israel and Italy, as announced by coach Didier Deschamps on Thursday.
This marks the second consecutive international break that the Real Madrid forward has missed, following his absence in October’s matches against Israel and Belgium.
The 25-year-old was initially rested for last month’s games due to a minor thigh injury sustained while playing for Real Madrid.
However, his swift return to action with his club, before France’s fixtures had even taken place, raised eyebrows and sparked controversy.
Mbappe was notably absent during France’s 4-1 win over Israel in Budapest and their 2-1 victory in Belgium, opting instead for a brief trip to Stockholm with his entourage.
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It was during this break that Swedish media reported an investigation into the player for an alleged rape.
Mbappe has since denied the claims, calling the reports “fake news,” and his lawyer stated that legal action would be pursued for defamation.
A Swedish prosecutor later confirmed that an investigation was underway, but did not confirm Mbappe’s involvement by name.
Since returning to club duty, Mbappe has played in four matches for Real Madrid, scoring once, though he has yet to hit his peak form.