Zidane is working to repair his relationship with Kylian Mbappé, the France captain and the most important piece of his attacking project, after reports exposed a rift between the pair. The French coach is moving to contain the tension and restore stability to the squad ahead of the upcoming fixtures.
The strain also comes alongside friction between Mbappé and his Paris Saint-Germain teammate Ousmane Dembélé, in the aftermath of their Ballon d’Or rivalry.
A Tactical Disagreement
French newspaper L’Équipe, cited by Foot Mercato, traces one of the main causes of the dispute to Zidane’s tactical choices during the last international break. The coach deployed his captain on the left wing and used Dembélé as an out-and-out striker. Mbappé, who prefers to play through the middle and exploit his goalscoring instincts close to goal, was not comfortable with the role.
Zidane was aware of Mbappé’s reservations. They surfaced in his recent comments after naming the France squad, when he discussed how he plans to use the captain in the upcoming UEFA Nations League fixtures against Italy and Turkey. He hinted at moving Mbappé back to his favored central position to get more from his talents and avoid another tactical row.
A Breakdown in Communication
The tension goes beyond tactics. L’Équipe reported a breakdown in communication between Zidane and Mbappé over the past period, with conversations between them severely limited during the last camp, before the player left for Madrid following an injury.
According to the paper, part of the problem was Mbappé’s health. Illness kept him in his room at the Clairefontaine centre, which reduced the chances of direct contact with the manager, even though their relationship matters greatly to the future of the national team.
Both men live in Madrid, but that proximity has not brought their views closer together. Zidane has recently patched things up with Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez, yet living in the same city has not produced a stronger bond with the France captain.
L’Équipe believes the relationship between Zidane and Mbappé lacks the harmony the player enjoyed with former France coach Didier Deschamps. Zidane recognizes the gap and wants to set things straight and defuse disputes before they poison the mood in the camp.
Why It Matters
Zidane needs to unite the group and build a strong relationship with his biggest stars. Mbappé is not just the captain; he is the cornerstone of Zidane’s attacking project. That makes improving communication between the pair a priority in the coming weeks.