Zidane Sides With Squad Unity as Mbappe Named Non-Playing Sub
Kylian Mbappé will serve as a non-playing substitute for France against Italy at the San Siro after head coach Zinedine Zidane prioritized squad cohesion over individual selection.
The forward is officially sidelined by a hamstring injury, though reports indicate growing dressing room friction regarding his focus on individual accolades has contributed to the decision.
Kylian Mbappe
playerZidane Enforces Squad Unity Following Dressing Room Rift
Teammates including Ousmane Dembélé have expressed dissatisfaction over Mbappé’s emphasis on personal awards, including his recent frustration regarding the Ballon d’Or voting. Tensions escalated further after Mbappé reached out directly to Dembélé to resolve differences without receiving a response, leading Zidane to reinforce equal treatment across the entire group.
The fixture marks the second meeting between the sides in the UEFA Nations League group phase, following a 1-1 draw between France and Italy in Paris last month.
Real Madrid
clubReporting on the squad dynamics was first published by French outlet L’Équipe.