Zinedine Zidane Reveals When He “Fell in Love” With Kylian Mbappé

France’s new head coach looked back on the beginning of a relationship that started when Mbappé was still a teenager and now finally brings them together with Les Bleus.

A Story That Began Long Before France

Zinedine Zidane is beginning a new chapter in charge of France, with one player expected to sit at the heart of his project: Kylian Mbappé. His debut will come against Türkiye in the UEFA Nations League, with the France captain expected to feature despite missing the first training session with flu symptoms.

Their story, however, began long before they were brought together with Les Bleus. Mbappé was only 13 or 14 years old when he visited Valdebebas for a trial with Real Madrid. Zidane was among those who welcomed him and was immediately struck by the teenager’s potential.

Years later, in 2019, ahead of a Champions League clash between Real Madrid and PSG, Zidane put that admiration into words: “I’ve known him for a long time and I’m in love. He came here for a trial a long time ago.” Nearly 15 years later, that footballing admiration can finally become a coach-player relationship.

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Mbappé Never Forgot That First Meeting Either

The connection also left a lasting impression on Mbappé. Writing in The Players’ Tribune, the forward recalled what it meant to receive that call from one of his idols while he was still a teenager.

“When Zidane called me, it felt like I was on the moon,” the France captain said when looking back on that experience in Madrid. According to his account, Zidane was even the one who greeted him and accompanied him to the club’s training ground.

Asked again about that episode before the match against Türkiye, Zidane explained what he saw at the time: “What I saw in him was his potential when he came for the trial at Real Madrid. We were all excited by the idea of seeing him play here. It didn’t happen... but we know the rest of the story.”

Zidane Has a Clear Idea for His Captain

The personal connection is only part of the story. Zidane also appears to have a clear tactical plan for getting the best out of Mbappé with France.

The new head coach confirmed that Mbappé will remain captain and praised his ability to operate across the front line. However, he also offered one particularly revealing clue by admitting that he “really likes him on the left.”

The idea would be to start Mbappé from that side in a 4-3-3, while giving him the freedom to drift inside and finish attacks like a second striker. It is a role that recalls the freedom Zidane once gave Cristiano Ronaldo at Real Madrid.

Mbappé has increasingly played as a center forward for France, particularly since Euro 2024, when Olivier Giroud stopped being the team’s main attacking reference. Mbappé himself has repeatedly stressed his versatility: “I’ve played three World Cups: one on the right, one on the left and, so far in this one, as a striker. That shows the position I play in is not important.”

What Zinedine Zidane’s Plan Reveals About Kylian Mbappé

Zinedine Zidane has known Kylian Mbappé since the forward trialed with Real Madrid at 13 or 14 years old.
France’s new head coach has made clear that he particularly likes Mbappé starting from the left.
After years of mutual admiration and several missed chances to work together in Madrid, Zidane will finally get to coach Mbappé with France.