French striker Kylian Mbappe announced his support for coach Zinedine Zidane, after statements by the president of the local Football Association, Noel Le Graet, in which he said that he would not answer the phone if the former midfielder called him to discuss training the national team.
The French Federation announced the extension of coach Didier Deschamps' contract last Saturday, after he led France to the World Cup final for the second time in a row, losing to Argentina on penalties in Qatar last month.
Zidane was a candidate to succeed Deschamps.
Le Graet: I will not respond to Zidane
And when the federation president was asked if Zidane - the national icon who won the World Cup with France in 1998 - would now coach the Brazilian national team instead of the French national team, Le Graet told RMC, "I don't care. He can go anywhere he wants." "I know very well that Zidane was always on the radar, he had a lot of fans, and some of them were waiting for Deschamps to leave.. But who can seriously blame Deschamps? No one."
He (Zidane) does what he wants, it's not my job. I haven't met him, we never thought of separating from Didier. He (Zidane) can go wherever he wants... Did Zidane try to call me? Of course not, I wouldn't even pick up the phone. to respond to him."
Zidane was the first coach to win the Champions League 3 times in a row, when he was coach of Real Madrid last decade.
Zidane, 50, who also won the European Championship in 2000 with France, is not associated with any team now, after his departure from the Spanish club at his will in 2021.
Zidane is in France, on the manque pas de respect à la légende as me ça… 🤦🏽♂️
- Kylian Mbappé (@KMbappe) January 8, 2023
Mbappe defends Zidane
"Zidane is France," Mbappe said on his Twitter account, after broadcasting Le Graet's interview. "It is not permissible to abuse literature in this way against a legend."
Mbappe's tweet received a huge response from his followers, who supported his position in defense of the former French legend.
French Sports Minister Amelie Odea-Castera was one of several politicians to respond to Le Graet's remarks, saying that "the president of the country's largest sports federation has crossed the line".
Official statement.# Real_Madrid
- Real Madrid (@realmadridarab) January 9, 2023
Real Madrid responds to Logret
For his part, Real Madrid issued an official statement to respond to the statements against his former star and coach, in which he said, "Real Madrid CF regrets the unfortunate statements made by the President of the French Federation, Noel Le Graet, regarding Zinedine Zidane, one of the greatest legends of world sport."
"These words show disrespect for one of the most admired figures among football fans around the world and our club expects an immediate correction. Zinedine Zidane, world and European champion for his country, embodies, among many others, the values of sport and has proven that throughout his professional career." As a player and as a coach."
And Real Madrid continued, “The statements of the President of the French Federation are not appropriate for those who carry this representation and are in themselves inappropriate, such as those he also made about our captain Karim Benzema, winner of the Golden Ball award, European Nations League champion with France in 2021 and winner of the League title.” 5 times European champions, among many other titles.