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It is certainly the most controversial absence of the year in French sport. Reduced after an injury contracted in the thigh in recent days, Kylian Mbappé preferred to give up the gathering of the France team, judging that it was still too short. Faced with the infernal pace of the calendars and the mental load linked to his arrival at Real Madrid, this choice could be understood at the start. But what above all aroused several tensions among observers of the Blues was his tenure last weekend with Real Madrid against Villarreal. Which suggests, for Mathieu Valbuena, that he is now more focused on his club than on his selection, of which he is nevertheless the captain.
“A captaincy is not just a piece of fabric around your arm, it is also having responsibilities on and off the field. And I think it would have been important that he could have been there for those matches, even if he knew he was tired. He could have been there for the group, that’s what captaincy is too. He also has treatment in the French team, he could have been there and his decision is quite strangecommented the ex-Marseillais on RMC. What is surprising for fans of the France team is the fact that he is not in the selection and that he is playing this weekend against Villarreal. Mbappé’s priority, I find that it is not the French team, it is Real Madrid. He comes to a new club, he knows that he has everything to prove and that it is not easy to succeed there. I think he’s putting everything he has to perform… We saw his last outings with the French team, he wasn’t a great Mbappé, even in his investment, his way of playing, we had the impression that he wasn’t there.»
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Manu Tournoux is a passionate and knowledgeable football enthusiast with a special focus on French football. Born and raised in France, Manu discovered his love for the beautiful game at a young age and developed a deep understanding of the ins and outs of "Le Championnat." His French roots and extensive experience in football journalism have made him an invaluable asset to the French Football Weekly team.
 
 As an author for the website, Manu's expertise includes not only in-depth analysis of Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 matches but also insightful profiles of up-and-coming talents, detailed transfer news, and engaging coverage of the French national team. His captivating writing style and undeniable passion for the game have earned him a loyal following among our readers.
 
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