Kylian Mbappe is excited to reunite with his France teammates as he prepares to play his first international match in six months. The French captain will lead his team against Croatia in the Nations League quarter-finals on Thursday.
“I feel good, I feel happy to be playing football, and I feel happy to be here,” Mbappe said at a press conference in Split.
The 26-year-old missed two games in October due to injury and another two in November when coach Didier Deschamps decided to give him a break. At the time, Mbappe was adjusting to life at his new club, Real Madrid.
Before the big match, Mbappe shared his joy at being back with the team. “Most of my teammates and I talk all the time. I even go on vacation with some of them. It’s always a pleasure to be here,” he said.
After moving to Real Madrid last summer, the 2018 World Cup winner admitted that he struggled to find his best form with his new club.
Mbappe was also involved in a controversy last year after Swedish media linked his name to a legal case. However, in December, Swedish courts closed the case without charging anyone.
“A football career has ups and downs. You have to focus on what makes you happy and keep working. If I could change anything, I would have played better,” Mbappe said, reflecting on 2024.
France will face Croatia in Split on Thursday, with the second leg set to take place three days later at the Stade de France in Paris.