how Mbappé spent his day in Blue

While his name is on everyone’s lips, Kylian Mbappé works under the colors of the France team at Clairefontaine. FRANCK FIFE / AFP

At Clairefontaine

National Technical Center, Tuesday 5:54 p.m. Under the great heat of Clairefontaine and a radiant sun, the players of the French team descend one by one the stairs leading to the magnificent “Michel Platini” pitch located below the Château. Inevitably, all the cameras only have eyes for Kylian Mbappé… absent from the group, before the Parisian appears alone, a few meters behind Olivier Giroud and Didier Deschamps. At a trot, almost late, the captain of the Blues runs down the steps to join his partners, greeting all the media with a “Good morningrespectful, all smiles, and careful to dodge a question about his future. As if everything was slipping on him.

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A few hours earlier, the Parisian striker had been talked about throughout Europe by deciding not to activate his contract extension at PSG. Faced with the “bomb” dropped and which revives the soap opera as to a possible transfer this summereven if the latter provides that it is “happy” in the capital and intends to honor his last year of contract, the captain of the Blues did not let anything show in public. Smiling, relaxed and rooming with his partners and in front of a few privileged people authorized to follow the training of the day, the captain of the vice-world champions did the job. “He’s not borrowed or preoccupied at all“Blowed Jules Koundé about him, in a press conference, two hours earlier. A media point during which Mbappé, absent, kept coming back to the center of questions. But whether it was Eduardo Camavinga or the Barcelonan, everyone stayed in the nails. “I teased him but I keep between him and me what we said», adjusts the Madrilenian, who would be “happy to welcome him” in Spain. An agreed speech, without false note.

As per usual

In the opposition of the day, on mini-pitch and in a team made up of six elements (Griezmann, Thuram, Maignan, Koundé, Konaté, Tchouameni and Disasi), the 24-year-old phenomenon has in any case shown himself to his advantage. with four goals, including a penalty, and an accurate finish. Irreproachable, relaxed but serious, he made Mbappé, impervious to pressure once on the ground. Only a penalty whistled against his team by Guy Stéphan at the end of the session annoyed him. “Stop a bit, there is no penalty, stop“, he breathed under the dodger of Clairefontaine. Not enough to make the headlines.

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Behind the scenes, the same impression within the blue house. “He is as usual, without any stress or signs of annoyance.“, testifies a close friend of the selection. Some even argue that if they did not read the press, no one would know anything about the explosive contractual situation of the top scorer in the French championship. Late Thursday afternoon in Faro, except surprise, Kylian Mbappé, as captain of the France team, will be expected at a press conference on the eve of the match against Gibraltar. Perfect opportunity to express yourself. And maintain a soap opera that has not yet delivered all its truths.