Konate praises Mbappe’s response to recent setbacks

France defender Ibrahima Konate expressed optimism on Monday regarding Kylian Mbappe's return to the national team, despite the 27-year-old's recent injury absence and controversy. Mbappe, who has missed France's last three matches due to injury, has rejoined coach Zinedine Zidane's squad ahead of their upcoming Nations League matches against Italy and Turkey.

Konate, who also plays alongside Mbappe at Real Madrid, noted that the young star is "in a very good frame of mind," as demonstrated by his decisive performances in recent matches. He emphasized that Mbappe is "absolutely vital" for the team, particularly in their upcoming match in Madrid.

The controversy surrounding Mbappe surfaced in late October when he made a joke about former Chinese leader Mao Zedong in an interview, leading to backlash from major Chinese brands and the withdrawal of Spanish La Liga matches from state broadcaster CCTV. Despite this setback and his disappointment over not winning the Ballon d'Or, Konate highlighted that Mbappe has since put the issue behind him.

He praised the World Cup winner's determination, stating that the young striker's competitive spirit drove him to give his all in training the very next day. Konate expressed hope that Mbappe will return in top form next year to secure the coveted Ballon d'Or.