Ibrahima Konate backs Kylian Mbappe to shine on France return

Ibrahima Konate has backed Kylian Mbappe to make a strong return to international football, insisting the France captain is in a good frame of mind despite recent disappointments on and off the pitch.

Mbappe is back in the France squad after missing the country’s last three matches through injury, with Les Bleus preparing for their Nations League encounters against Italy and Turkey this week.

The 27-year-old has endured a challenging period following his failure to win the Ballon d’Or and the controversy surrounding comments he made about former Chinese leader Mao Zedong, which triggered a backlash in China.

However, Konate, who plays alongside Mbappe at Real Madrid, believes his teammate has remained focused and continues to demonstrate his importance to the Spanish giants through his performances.

“He’s in a very good frame of mind; you can see that from his recent matches – he’s been decisive. He’s absolutely vital for us in Madrid,” Konate said on Monday.

Mbappe’s return is a timely boost for France as they look to strengthen their squad ahead of their upcoming Nations League assignments, with the forward expected to play a key role following his spell on the sidelines.

Ballon d’Or disappointment already behind Mbappe

The former Paris Saint-Germain forward narrowly missed out on the Ballon d’Or in late October, finishing behind England and Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane in the race for the prestigious individual award.

Despite the disappointment, Konate revealed that Mbappe wasted little time putting the setback behind him, returning to training with the same determination that has characterised his career.

The France defender acknowledged that missing out on an award he believed his teammate deserved would naturally have been difficult for a player with Mbappe’s competitive mentality.

However, he was impressed by how quickly the forward redirected his attention towards his responsibilities on the pitch.

“He’s a competitor, so of course not winning the Ballon d’Or when he thoroughly deserved it is tough, but the very next day he was giving it his all in training. I hope he’ll be in top form next year to lift it,” the former Liverpool centre-half added.

China controversy adds to difficult period

Beyond the disappointment of missing out on the Ballon d’Or, Mbappe has also faced criticism following comments about Mao Zedong that sparked a social media storm in China.

The controversy emerged from a now-deleted clip of an interview with French programme The Bridge, during which the Real Madrid forward discussed an internet meme featuring his face superimposed on an image of the former Chinese leader.

Mbappe said he found the meme amusing, describing the individual as “some guy, think he’s a Chinese dictator”, in an apparent reference to Mao.

The remarks triggered a significant backlash, with several major Chinese brands subsequently ending their commercial relationships with the French international.

The fallout also extended to Spanish football, with La Liga matches reportedly being removed from state broadcaster CCTV’s television schedule.

Mbappe later apologised over the controversy as the situation attracted widespread attention.

Despite the distractions, Konate’s assessment suggests the forward has maintained his focus on football as he prepares to resume international duties.

France will hope Mbappe can translate that positive mentality into performances when they face Italy and Turkey, with the Real Madrid forward looking to put a difficult spell behind him and return to his influential best.