Kylian Mbappe admits ‘complicated’ relationship with former France team-mate amid claims star quit national team due to Real Madrid attacker taking captain’s armband

Kylian Mbappe has admitted that his relationship with Antoine Griezmann is complicated but insisted that suggestions of an all-out rift are well wide of the mark. 

The Les Blues skipper was blamed in some quarters after Griezmann announced his international retirement back in September after making 137 appearances for his country and scoring 44 goals.

Griezmann has been a key player for Les Bleus for over a decade and was integral to their triumphant 2018 World Cup campaign in Russia. 

Fingers were pointed in the French media at Mbappe following Griezmann’s decision. The Real Madrid star had been made captain of side in 2023 after the retirement of Huge Lloris at the expense of Griezmann. 

This promoted speculation of unrest in the France camp ahead of Euro 2024, with Mbappe confirming that he had cleared the air with his team-mate and understood his ‘disappointment’ at being overlooked. 

Ahead of France’s Nations League quarter-final against Croatia, the striker has sought to quiet chatter once more, insisting that he and Griezmann are in a good place – while also accepting that the situation is complicated by their club allegiances. 

The Atletico Madrid striker called time on his illustrious international career in September last year

Mbappe insisted that any suggestion of a rift between the pair is well wide of the mark and even revealed the two are neighbours in Madrid

‘We often talk with Antoine,’ he told Le Parisien. ‘I love his son, he’s a football fanatic, he reminds me a bit of myself when I was little. I love him, Amaro.

‘But after that, it’s true that it’s complicated because we’re in a city where our two teams are real rivals.

‘But I can assure you, we have a very good relationship with Antoine. He’s already invited me to his house quite a few times for a barbecue.

‘It hasn’t happened yet, but we’re sure to get there. We live next door, in the same building.’

Mbappe, whose Real Madrid side knocked Atletico out of the Champions League after a contentious penalty shootout last week, also revealed that he was aware of Griezmann’s retirement decision before the public announcement. 

He added: ‘Not only did I know he was going to quit, but he also explained why.

‘But it’s always the same, it’s his decision, only he can explain to you why he made that choice.’