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topicnews · September 6, 2024

Mbappé could face a hostile home crowd when France hosts Italy in the Nations League

Mbappé could face a hostile home crowd when France hosts Italy in the Nations League

PARIS (AP) — Kylian Mbappe says he doesn’t care how he is treated when he returns to the Paris Saint-Germain pitch on Friday.

The French superstar returns to his home country with the national team, where the 2022 World Cup runners-up will face Italy in the UEFA Nations League at the Parc des Princes.

Mbappé played seven seasons at PSG before joining Real Madrid this summer. He left the club amid a dispute over €55 million ($61 million) in unpaid wages and there is a chance he could face a hostile public.

“I don’t expect much from tomorrow’s reception,” Mbappé said at a press conference on Thursday. “I don’t care. The most important thing is to win.”

Mbappé ended his goal drought in the Spanish league with scored both goals in Madrid’s 2-0 win over Real Betis last week.

“I feel good physically and mentally,” he said on Thursday. “I’m happy where I am and what I’m doing and I know it will get even better as the Games go on.”

Italy and France begin their Nations League campaigns in Group A2, which also includes Belgium and Israel, with both the French and Italians looking to improve after their lackluster performances at the European Championships.

Italy was eliminated of the tournament in the round of 16 and Mbappé admitted that his tournament was a failure when France lost in the semifinals and scored only one goal from open play throughout the competition.

Mbappé suffered a broken nose in the French national team’s first group match at Euro 2024. In the semi-finals, he threw the vision-restricting mask which he had worn, but Les Bleus still lost 2-1 to Spain.

He said he had overcome the disappointment, adding that his broken nose did not require surgery.

“I was examined in Madrid and was told that surgery was not necessary,” he said. “I have no problems breathing or sleeping.”

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AP Football: