Mbappé, Zidane Fall Apart as France Take on Italy Today

Kylian Mbappe chose not to train with the rest of the French national team ahead of their UEFA Nations League match against Italy. Reports emerging from Paris suggest a significant rift between the French captain and coach Zinedine Zidane. The French national team is not renowned for its tight-knit atmosphere, but tensions appear to have intensified recently.

There have long been reports of a strained relationship between Mbappé and fellow striker Ousmane Dembélé, but it now seems that Mbappé's problems extend to his coach as well. According to the French sports newspaper L’Equipe, the source of the discord stems from Zidane's decision to relocate Mbappé to the left wing during a September training camp, which Mbappé perceived as a demotion.

Journalist Alberto Pereiro of Onda Cero reported that Mbappé did not join the national team in their training session on Wednesday, and he was instead under the care of physiotherapists before the team departed for Italy. France will face Italy in tomorrow's match.