One of the greatest footballers to wear the French shirt is concerned about the state of the national team’s biggest player.
Kylian Mbappé (25) is going through the roughest period of his professional career, and it has caught the attention of the legendary Michel Platini.
The catalyst of France’s 1984 Euro triumph says that he’s worried about what Mbappé has shown on the field this season. “I find he looks lost on the pitch”, said the former French coach.
“A great champion must be reborn from his ashes, systematically,” he goes on to say.
« Je le trouve perdu sur le terrain » : Michel Platini inquiet pour Kylian Mbappé
Interrogé sur la période difficile que traverse l’attaquant français, Michel Platini espère que Kylian Mbappé saura « renaître de ses cendres ».
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Over the past two international windows, French manager Didier Deschamps has not selected the Real Madrid attacker, stating that his temporary omission from Les Bleus’ set-up is the best case for all parties.
In his absence, France went undefeated in their final five UEFA Nations League contests, surpassing Italy for first in Group 2 and qualifying for the quarter-finals of that competition.
On Wednesday, Mbappé was the subject of more criticism for his club side, as they suffered a 2-0 defeat against Liverpool in UEFA Champions League action, with the Frenchman missing a penalty.
The former Paris Saint-Germain forward has seven goals in 12 La Liga appearances this season while netting only once in five Champions League affairs.
During Les Bleus’ run to the semi-finals of the Euro this past summer, the French captain faced plenty of criticism for his offensive lack of production, netting just once from the penalty spot.
In October, Swedish media outlets reported that Mbappé was the suspect in an alleged rape in Stockholm, though the French international’s lawyers and representatives have refuted those allegations as being false.
Earlier this month, it was reported that Deschamps would talk with Mbappé to see if wearing the armband was too much of a burden on him.
Platini, who has scored the fifth-most goals (41) in the history of the men’s team, hopes that Mbappé’s struggles will serve as only a minor shot for French football and the 2022 World Cup Golden Boot winner.
France will face Croatia in the Nations League quarter-finals in March, with leg one occurring in Split on the 20th and the return game at the Stade de France three days later.
