Kylian Mbappe comments spark France dressing-room tensions, says Jerome Rothen

Kylian Mbappe’s comments about the Ballon d’Or have caused tension within the France squad, with some players reportedly siding with Paris Saint-Germain forward Ousmane Dembele, according to former France international Jerome Rothen.

The dispute centres on comments made by Mbappe, the Real Madrid captain, about his standing compared with Dembele, who won the Ballon d’Or last year.

“Dembele? He has always been seen as a talented player, whereas I have always been considered the chosen player,” Mbappe said.

He suggested that he had reached the top at an early age, while Dembele’s career had followed a different path because of injuries.

Dembele appeared to respond after Paris Saint-Germain’s victory over Brest, with his remarks widely viewed as a direct answer to his France team-mate.

“I have always been like this, at the back of the class, working hard. Throughout my career, I have never said a word; I have simply worked hard,” Dembele said.

“I have never been the chosen player. I worked hard and was rewarded with a great year at Paris. This year, we will see. I am following it without pressure.”

The exchange has reportedly caused anger within Dembele’s camp. Rothen, now an analyst for Radio Monte Carlo, said Dembele had reacted particularly badly to Mbappe’s words.

According to Marca, Rothen said: “He took it very badly” and was “very angry with Mbappe”.

“For him, it is a betrayal. The words are harsh, but they completely reflect the way the situation is being viewed,” Rothen added.

Rothen also claimed that Dembele was not alone in feeling aggrieved. He said some of Dembele’s Paris Saint-Germain and France team-mates had shown their support for him, raising the possibility of divisions within the national team.

“There are several France players who do not understand, once again, all of Mbappe’s comments,” Rothen said.

“They are closer to Dembele’s camp than Mbappe’s, even though they are in the same national team. But it appears there are now two camps.”

The situation comes shortly before the next international break, when Mbappe and Dembele are expected to meet again in the France squad. It would be the first time they have worked together under new manager Zinedine Zidane.

French reports have suggested that a meeting between the two players could be arranged to clear the air and bring the dispute to an end.

The disagreement has emerged at a sensitive point in the race for the Ballon d’Or. Dembele is defending the award he won last year, while Mbappe is seeking to claim the prize for the first time in his career.