Kylian Mbappe had to have ‘clear the air talks’ with France team-mate upon returning to the national team

Kylian Mbappe needed to cure a poisoned relationship with one of his France team-mates upon returning to the national team, according to a report. 

The Real Madrid superstar apparently held ‘clear the air talks’ with a fellow star upon returning to the squad in the past few days.

Mbappe was left out of France’s squads for their internationals in October and November, apparently due to his ‘fitness’ the first time, but he was in the condition to play for the second. 

This week he has spoken out over French reports Antoine Griezmann had retired from international duty in September following a rift between them.

But now it appears there was also a division with Mike Maignan after the goalkeeper launched into a rant after France’s 3-1 defeat by Italy in September, as per L’Equipe. 

Maignan, 29, reportedly erupted into a two-minute invective as he slammed the team’s lack of commitment, with Mbappe and Griezmann stunned into silence. 

Mbappe has been recalled to the France team after being left out for two international breaks 

Maignan (left) had apparently ranted at his team-mates after France lost 3-1 to Italy last year

L’Equipe claims that Mbappe felt personally targeted but that Maignan has now explained that he was addressing the whole squad. 

The two senior stars are not said to be especially close but have a functional relationship as they seek to lift the 2026 World Cup. 

Earlier this week, Mbappe admitted that he and Antoine Griezmann havea ‘complicated’ relationship but insisted that suggestions of an all-out rift are well wide of the mark.

The Les Bleus skipper was blamed in some quarters after Griezmann announced his international retirement back in September after making 137 appearances for his country and scoring 44 goals.

Griezmann has been a key player for Les Bleus for over a decade and was integral to their triumphant 2018 World Cup campaign in Russia.

Fingers were pointed in the French media at Mbappe following Griezmann’s decision. The Real Madrid star had been made captain of side in 2023 after the retirement of Huge Lloris at the expense of Griezmann.

This promoted speculation of unrest in the France camp ahead of Euro 2024, with Mbappe confirming that he had cleared the air with his team-mate and understood his ‘disappointment’ at being overlooked.

‘We often talk with Antoine,’ he told Le Parisien. ‘I love his son, he’s a football fanatic, he reminds me a bit of myself when I was little. I love him, Amaro.

There was apparently a rift between Mbappe and Antoine Griezmann, who has since retired from the national team, but the Real Madrid forward has insisted that this is not the case 

‘But after that, it’s true that it’s complicated because we’re in a city where our two teams are real rivals.

‘But I can assure you, we have a very good relationship with Antoine. He’s already invited me to his house quite a few times for a barbecue.

‘It hasn’t happened yet, but we’re sure to get there. We live next door, in the same building.’