MY ACCOUNT
France manager Didier Deschamps has denied advising Kylian Mbappe to leave Paris Saint-Germain and Ligue 1 at the end of the season.
Mbappe has been heavily linked with a move to Real Madrid at the end of the current campaign when his contract at PSG expires, with little sign of the 22-year-old sensation signing an extension at the Parc des Princes.
In an interview with RMC Sport, Deschamps was adamant that he did not suggest that Mbappe should leave the French top flight for another country.
“It’s bull***t to say that I said [Mbappe] had to leave France,” he exclaimed. “I never said that, neither for him nor for anyone else.
“This is not to denigrate Ligue 1. Compared to the requirements of the France team, which is the top international level, the more they will be used to top level matches in their daily life in the championship or the European Cup and the closer they get to the level of requirement.
“This is not the case at Real [Madrid] when they play other teams in LaLiga. This is not the case for Bayern [Munich] in their league. Kylian will choose, it’s his choice. It’s not a problem if he stays in Paris.”
Deschamps’ own contract situation was also raised, with the 53-year-old giving little away on his long-term future as the national team boss, insisting that it is a decision for French Football Federation president Noel Le Graet. Deschamps’ current deal runs out after the 2022 World Cup next December.
“I don’t know. In all honesty, I don’t know. I don’t care,” he said. “It’s my president who decides. The only person and last to decide is the president. He will decide. I don’t have to. I have not extended yet, that’s how it is.
“The most important contract is the contract of confidence. The situation is like that and I don’t have a problem.
“It’s a possibility to continue. Coaching is another job. I’m not going to forbid myself something. I am fulfilled as a coach…. I am at the top level with the best players and the best competitions. It has always been a possibility to continue. I do not close any doors.”
The former Juventus and Monaco boss was also asked about the potential for his eventual replacement in charge of Les Bleus to be his former team-mate Zinedine Zidane, who has been heavily linked with the role since leaving Real Madrid at the end of last season.
La Graet indicated in a recent interview that ‘Zizou’ will be considered as a future candidate to take the reins after Deschamps.
“I took Laurent Blanc’s place; someone will take my place,” Deschamps added. “It will be Zizou or another. It’s not the fact that I like it or not, the conditions have to be met. Zizou has a link with the France team. With him we said that he would be coach when he launched his career. If he wants to and if the conditions are met, so much the better.
“Zidane has been talking about it since 2016 and 2018. It is not the president who spoke about it. He has the right to answer. He can say what he wants, that is not a problem. Whether it is Zizou or another. I’m not going to comment on my president’s words but he also said that it was inappropriate to ask about my future.”
