Didier Deschamps on Kylian Mbappé’s PSG exile: “I still would have called him up.”

France’s national team boss Didier Deschamps gave a wide-ranging interview to L’Equipe this Thursday. The 54-year-oldLes Bleus manager gave his take on Kylian Mbappé’s (24) contractual standoff with Paris Saint-Germain.

The France skipper was left out of Luis Enrique’s senior squad during pre-season due to his refusal to extend his stay in the French capital and his intention to leave the Ligue 1 champions as a free agent next summer. The 2018 World Cup winner eventually returned to contention and even scored PSG’s first goal of the Ligue 1 season at Toulouse last week. Despite this troublesome summer, Deschamps had no intention of omitting Mbappé from the France squad. “I still would have called him up, that’s certain“, Deschamps said. “Kylian would have been with us.“

Deschamps also reveals he had exchanged with Mbappé over the summer. When asked if he urged Mbappé to return to speaking terms with Les Parisiens, Deschamps said that it was not his job to do so. “This is not my role. I exchange with him, and with other players as well, but this is their career. I’m not an advisor. At best, I can give my opinion if they ask for it.” The former decorated midfielder is adamant that Mbappé will not lose his energy and focus over his future when his current contract expires on June 30th, with France possibly still involved in the Euro 2024. “The person who can make Kylian lose his cool is yet to be born.“

Deschamps also lauded Mbappé’s first steps as France skipper. As exclusively revealed by Get French Football News, the 24-year-old PSG striker was given the armband amid the international retirements of both Hugo Lloris and Raphaël Varane. “He has total legitimacy within the group. He is a natural. He is able to act as a bridge