Kylian Mbappé remains the center of attention. Two days after the hearing held at the Paris industrial court following the conflict between Paris Saint-Germain and the club’s former stars who were suing each other for money, it was a trip that has now put him at the center of the news. Packed for the French team’s trip to Azerbaijan on Sunday, Bondynois took the opportunity to spend a few days in Dubai.
Thanks to the images posted on social networks, it is possible to retrace the stay of the Blues captain. Therefore, he will stay a few days at the Atlantis The Royal hotel and visit the padel club “Padel One”, as revealed by the photos posted on the institution’s Instagram account where brothers Lucas and Théo Hernandez also appear.
Starting Sunday against Elche?
If this journey is not abnormal, then the context raises more questions. The reason is, in a press release released last Friday, the French Football Federation announced the striker’s withdrawal, stating that “Kylian Mbappé still has inflammation in his right ankle which requires examination. He will do so today in Madrid. »
“He almost has chronic inflammation because he’s had this ankle problem for some time,” Didier Deschamps later clarified at a press conference on Saturday. Although that doesn’t stop him from playing. I’m sure there’s no risk to be taken because we’ve already qualified and I’m handing him over to Real Madrid. »
According to information from L’Équipe, Kylian Mbappé did not return to the Spanish capital for the health check. This Wednesday, he is expected to be at Real’s training center, possibly for treatment. And he should start against Elche on Sunday after a period of rest that Xabi Alonso hopes will give breathing space to his prolific striker, who has scored 18 goals in 16 games with the Madrilenians this season.
He may not be against it. At a press conference with the French team in September, Bondynois called for “more rest” for the players. “I understand the supporters who want us to play more. We can play the same number of matches but with more rest to regenerate the body and bear the same load of matches,” he said.
One year after Sweden
This trip to Dubai, however, challenged certain observers, and in particular former international Jérôme Rothen, who said he was “appalled” in his show on RMC Sport, at the Blues captain’s “lack of respect” for the French team.
In contrast, former international Bixente Lizarazu defended Mbappé’s absence in Azerbaijan in a column for L’Equipe on Sunday: “He is undoubtedly the player in the French team who is under the most pressure from all points of view. He needs the oxygen bubble, perhaps more than the others. He is happy with the Real jersey, happy with the Blues jersey, all the lights are green. In a game like this, who can score points? The regulars on the bench. For them, it is important to play in Azerbaijan. For Mbappé – and for all Blues supporters – it is important for him to be fit in America ».
This postponement actually reminds us of what Sweden did in October 2024 when the French team faced Israel. Although he was not selected with the Blues to take advantage of the time off and adapt at his new club Real Madrid, the former Parisian was spotted at restaurants and nightclubs in Stockholm. The break was then authorized by the Madrilen people.
