France's head coach, Didier Deschamps, confirmed that Kylian Mbappé will return to the squad in March after being excluded in October and November due to a drop in form and some internal tensions. In an interview with L'Équipe, Deschamps clarified that there was never a conflict with the forward and justified his absence by a combination of physical and emotional factors.

"He had a difficult period with little rest, little preparation, six tough months in Paris, back pain, a nose fracture during the Euro, and his adaptation to Real Madrid. All of this had an impact on his physical and mental state," explained the coach. He also admitted that it was a mistake to call him up in September when he wasn't in his best condition. "With hindsight, I realized he wasn’t in the best shape. I thought his presence was important for the group, but his physical state was difficult to assess at that time," he added.

Despite rumors of tensions, Deschamps made it clear that Mbappé remains a key player for the team. "Obviously, he will be in the squad for March’s Nations League quarterfinals against Croatia. He has always been very committed to the team, even though he went through a complicated personal period. He has now regained his level, and that’s showing in his game and mentality," assured the coach.

Mbappé has put his difficult start to the season behind him and has become Real Madrid’s top scorer, with 23 goals in 35 matches across all competitions. Since December, he has scored 13 goals, showing his recovery on the field. "I’ve always said, France is stronger with Kylian on the pitch," Deschamps emphasized.

Unquestionable leadership

The coach also confirmed Mbappé’s role as captain of the national team, supporting his leadership since the retirement of Hugo Lloris and Raphaël Varane after the 2022 Qatar World Cup. "He has taken on this leadership role with Antoine Griezmann, the vice-captain. What happened last fall doesn’t change anything about his status or leadership ability," Deschamps concluded.

With doubts cleared and his return confirmed, Mbappé will meet up with his teammates in Clairefontaine next month, ready to continue writing his story with the French national team.