Mbappe blasts claims he was going to quit France because he missed vital Euro 2020 penalty and says it was due to racism
KYLIAN MBAPPE has hit out at the president of the French Football Federation following claims he was ready to QUIT international football.
The Paris-Saint Germain star has revealed he considered retiring from France duty due to racism that was directed towards him.
FFF chief Noel Le Graet had suggested a lack of support after Mbappe's crucial missed penalty at Euro 2020, that saw France crash out, led to him considering retiring from international football.
Le Graet claimed the 23-year-old was "angry" as he felt that the FFF had not defended him enough for his missed penalty.
But Mbappe has now hit back on his account saying it was racist abuse, not the missed penalty, that made him consider retirement.
He also accused Le Graet of ignoring the abuse that was allegedly directed towards him.
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Mbappe wrote: "Yes finally I explained to him above all well that it was in relation to racism and NO to the penalty. But he considered that there had been no racism."
French police launched an investigation last summer after Mbappe was allegedly racially abused online.
He then revealed to in December that the comments were "hard" to read and left him feeling "hurt".
Mbappe said: "I give my best for my country. I give all I have to make the people in France happy, to make everybody proud, and to have this type of message, really, it's hard and that hurt me."
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His response today came after spoke to French chief Le Graet about the PSG star having second thoughts on representing the nation.
He said: "I heard from Mbappe after the Euros, he found that the Federation had not defended him after his missed penalty and the criticism on the networks.
"We had seen each other for five minutes in my office.
"He was angry, he no longer wanted to play in the France team – which he obviously did not think.
"You know what it is, he is a winner, he was very frustrated, like all of us, by the elimination [from Euro 2020].
"He is so publicised. He's a great guy, much more collective than you think."
Mbappe,who has signed a £500million deal to stay at PSG, expressed immense sadness as he apologised to Les Bleus fans for his penalty miss last year.
Yann Sommer was the hero, saving from the superstar to send Switzerland through to the quarter final.
Mbappe - who did not score at the tournament - took to Instagram to say sorry to the millions watching on at home in an emotional message.
He wrote: "The sadness is immense after this elimination, we could not reach our goal.
"I'm sorry for this penalty. I wanted to help the team but failed.
"Getting to sleep will be difficult but unfortunately it is the ups and downs of this sport that I love so much.
"I know you fans have been disappointed, but I still want to thank you for your support and for always believing in us.
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"The most important thing will be to get up even stronger for the next upcoming deadlines. Congratulations and good luck to Switzerland."
France have qualified for this winter's 2022 World Cup and are in group D with Australia, Denmark and Tunisia.