Kylian Mbappe undergoing treatment for ‘small niggle’ at France camp: Didier Deschamps
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
Kylian Mbappe sustained a knock at the end of Real Madrid’s 3-1 La Liga victory over Villarreal on Oct 4.
PHOTO: AFP
Follow topic:
PARIS – Kylian Mbappe is receiving treatment for a “small niggle” in his right ankle after meeting up with his international teammates ahead of the latest round of 2026 World Cup qualifiers, France coach Didier Deschamps said on Oct 6.
The France captain, 26, sustained the knock at the end of Real Madrid’s 3-1 La Liga home victory over Villarreal on Oct 4, casting doubts over his availability to the national team for their upcoming qualifying matches against Azerbaijan and Iceland.
“I spoke with Kylian. He had a small niggle but it’s not serious – otherwise he wouldn’t be here today,” Deschamps told reporters at the French team’s Clairefontaine base near Paris.
“We will take the time with the medical staff to assess the situation and then see how it develops.”
Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate also underwent tests, after coming off injured in the Reds’ 2-1 loss at Chelsea on Oct 4. The pair are both receiving treatment.
The French Football Federation (FFF) also confirmed Paris Saint-Germain forward Bradley Barcola would be sent home from Clairefontaine due to a hamstring injury.
“After consulting with the French national team doctor... (Barcola) has been diagnosed with a chronic injury to his right hamstring since Paris Saint-Germain’s Champions League match against Atalanta (on Sept 17),” the FFF said.
PSG then publicly rejected the diagnosis of the 23-year-old by France’s medical team.
“The information published in this statement does not correspond in any way to the medical information provided by Paris Saint-Germain’s medical teams,” the club posted on social media.
“Prior to the gathering (at Clairefontaine) and following the Ligue 1 match day 7 fixture against Lille, Paris Saint-Germain provided the French national team with a medical report on Bradley Barcola that made no mention of any chronic injury following the match against Atalanta.”
The attacker played 59 minutes of PSG’s Ligue 1 draw at Lille on Oct 5 before being replaced, showing no apparent signs of injury during the encounter.
In September, there was friction between the two parties after PSG criticised the French national team staff following injuries suffered by Ousmane Dembele and Desire Doue during France’s opening Group D win over Ukraine.
Les Bleus are top of their group with two wins from two qualifiers. They host Azerbaijan on Oct 10 at PSG’s Parc des Princes before travelling to Iceland three days later.
Elsewhere, Netherlands’ record scorer Memphis Depay will miss his country’s qualifier away to Malta on Oct 9 after saying his passport was stolen in Brazil, where he plays for Corinthians.
Depay, 31, broke Robin van Persie’s record
“The plan I had in mind for this week will ultimately change somewhat because of this,” coach Ronald Koeman told an Oct 6 press conference. “He won’t start, no.
“Memphis couldn’t find his passport in Brazil. He went to the airport without one but that didn’t work, even if you’re Memphis.
“Now he’s flying later on an emergency passport. He’ll be in the Netherlands by 9.30am on Tuesday morning. Everyone has the right to be late once in a while.” AFP, REUTERS
