“The national selections cannot have the minimum portion of an increasingly insane calendar”, denounces the president of the FFF

While the striker has not been called up to the French team for the next two matches, Philippe Diallo calls for “preserving the national selections” and “finding a balance” with the clubs.

“The national selections cannot have the minimum portion of an increasingly crazy international calendar”, denounces Sunday October 6 in Le Club info de franceinfo the president of the French Football Federation (FFF), Philippe Diallo, about the absence of Kylian Mbappé for the next two matches of the Blues on October 10 and 14.

The captain of the Blues Kylian Mbappé, spared after an injury to the left thigh from which he returned more quickly than expected, was not selected by Didier Deschamps for the next two matches against Israel and Belgium in the Nations League, but was yet starting this Saturday evening with Real Madrid for the reception of Villarreal in La Liga (2-0).

“There is nothing above the French team and the national selections”, said Philippe Diallo. “Didier [Deschamps] had spoken with him directly and with the Real Madrid medical staff and he decided not to select him, which does not call into question Kylian’s attachment to the France team.

“The question that is asked is that today, in an insane calendar, with multiple competitions, the ‘top players’ are at a rate of 65 matches per year”, explains the boss of the FFF. “We arrive at a sort of ceiling where it is necessary for the clubs, the national selections, the authorities, to sit down around a tablee”, particularly with the aim of “preserve national selections” and of “find a balance”.

“There is pressure exerted by the clubs on their players,” he adds. “We could multiply the examples where clubs which have great ambitions with great players, at one point, are certainly less favorable to letting their players go to the national team”. Philippe Diallo notes for example that another big star of Real Madrid, Vinicius Jr, “will not play with his Brazilian team either.”

“Is the balance of power in our favor?” asks the president of the FFF. “Our main weakness is that the players who come to the French team have employment contracts with their club. This is what makes the selections a more delicate position. We have to convince the entire world of football that coming to the selection is an honor”. However, according to Philippe Diallo, “the players understand perfectly that you never become a great player, that you do not become a legend, when you have not managed to achieve successful results with your national team.”