Kylian Mbappé defends Zinedine Zidane after statements by the president of the French Federation
The PSG striker asked for respect for the technical director, Real Madrid and the French government also spoke out
The international forward of Paris Saint-Germain, kylian mbappereacted to the derogatory statements of the president of the French Football Federation (fff), Noël Le Graëtagainst Zinedine Zidaneand affirms that this “is France“.
“Zidane is France. The legend is not disrespected like this,” he wrote. mbappe on his Twitter account.
Le Graet spoke on the station RMC about the former star of the French national team and Real Madrid in a tone of disdain about speculation that he could be the next French coach, an option discarded with the announcement by the fff this past Saturday of the extension of the contract with Didier Deschamps until July 2026, that is, until the next World Cup.
In the interview, Graët said:Zidane in Brazil? I don’t give a damn, let him go where he wants! He can go wherever he wants, to a club…” she added.
“Yes Zidane Will you try to contact me? Of course not, she wouldn’t even have picked up the phone. To tell him to find another club? Make a special program for him to find a club or a selection,” she continued.
mbappe He was not the only one who came out in defense of Zidanethe Minister of Sports, Amélie Oudéa-Castera, apologized to Le Graet.
In a message on her Twitter account, the minister considers that the controversial words of Le Graet on Sunday on a radio station they are “again out of place”, with the aggravating circumstance that there is also “a shameful lack of respect that shocks us all against a football and sports legend”, in reference to Zidane.
“A president of the first sports federation of France shouldn’t say that”, he adds before claiming “excuses for those extra words about Z. Zidaneplease”.
Le Graet He stressed that at no time had they considered the possibility of not renewing the contract with Deschamps, who “is irreplaceable”.
For its part, Real Madrid regretted the “unfortunate statements” made by Le Graet against Zidanewho “represents the values of the sport”, as “he has demonstrated throughout his professional career as a player and as a coach”.
“These words show a lack of respect towards one of the figures most admired by football fans around the world,” said Real Madrid.
The club chaired by Florentino Pérez “expects an immediate rectification” and highlighted the career of Zidane. “World champion and European champion defending his country’s jersey, among many other titles, he represents the values of the sport and he has shown it throughout his professional career as a player and as a coach.”
“The statements of the president of the French Football Federation They are inappropriate for someone who holds that representation and they disqualify themselves, like the ones he also does about our captain Karim Benzema, current Ballon d’Or, champion of the League of Nations with France in 2021 and winner of 5 Champions League, among many other titles”, he added.
Finally, Le Graet apologized this Monday with Zidane for some words that “do not reflect at all what I think, nor my consideration for the player he was, nor for the coach he has become”.
In his apology message, Le Graet explains that he gave an interview that he should not have given to the station RMC because “he was looking for controversy by opposing Didier [Deschamps] with zinedine Zidane, two monuments of French football. I admit to saying the wrong things that created a misunderstanding.”
And he assures: “zinedine Zidane You know the immense esteem I have for him, like all the French”.
The situation is particularly delicate for Le Graetwho is on the tightrope for investigations into accusations against him for sexual harassment in the fffabout which he has to appear in the framework of an audit commissioned by the Minister of Sports.
