“If he's not there, it's because the player didn't want him to be there,” said Luis Fernandez.

With RMC Sport, Luis Fernandez reacted to the non-call of Kylian Mbappé for the next gathering of the France team. The former French international (60 caps) thinks in particular that it is a joint choice of Mbappé and Didier Deschamps, and not only of the coach.

Luis, were you surprised not to see Kylian Mbappé on the France team list?

There were exchanges between Kylian and the coach if I understood correctly. It's probably due to his situation, the fact that it's not working as well as in the past and so he perhaps wants to stay in Madrid without coming to the France team. I think the decision was made like that, by mutual agreement with the coach and the player.

>> All the information after the announcement of Didier Deschamps' list

Does this shock you?

In the past, the captains of the France team were always proud to wear this jersey, to be captain, leader, to be there at rallies. I would have preferred him to be there, he wasn't there last time. It would have been better if he could come, if he could express himself on the pitch. He knows very well that we will still ask him a lot of questions about his performances (if he comes), the fact that he is not at his best level. But it would have been better if he was there, if he showed us that he has this personality in him to overcome these kinds of situations.

How do you interpret this? Didier Deschamps says it's his decision and that Mbappé wanted to come…

It's 50-50. When you can be selected, you don't refuse the selection, you have to think about all those players who couldn't be called up. The captain was already not there the previous time, he could have made the trip and been with his teammates. He is the leader, his leader. It seems a little strange to me.

Could it really be a choice of the coach?

If it is not there, it is because the player did not want it. I think that given this period he is going through which is not the best, a period of doubt, he perhaps wanted to push back, I see the situation like that.

Have you ever experienced such a situation?

Refusing a selection or wearing the blue jersey, everyone wanted to. There was a time when everyone dreamed of wearing this jersey. When you become someone with these qualities and you are important, you don't refuse selection, you don't put it aside. We have to think of all these supporters, the supporters of the France team. There are many of them. It's communication, we can believe it or not, but we'll see.

Can they get out from the top?

Having been world champion, and having also played in a final, it's hard not to be there when you have to be the best player and the captain. It could have difficult consequences for him, but we'll see later, I hope not.