Television host Cyril Hanouna reported that Kylian Mbappé declined to play for France in the UEFA Nations League match against Italy, citing physical fatigue and a lack of motivation, Foot Mercato reported.

Speaking on his W9 television program Tout beau, tout neuf on Tuesday, November 11, 2026, the 52-year-old broadcaster detailed alleged friction surrounding the national team camp. Hanouna claimed that Mbappé questioned his involvement due to numerous squad injuries and the low stakes of the tournament fixture.

“Apparently, since there are a lot of injured players, Kylian Mbappé does not want to play,” Hanouna told Foot Mercato.

“He doesn’t really feel the vibe. He doesn’t care much about the match against Italy because it’s the Nations League and it’s not a very important match. Considering all the injured players and that he’s not in superb shape, he doesn’t want to play. These are sure information that I have.”

According to the broadcast report, Zinedine Zidane allegedly told the forward not to play the match after the player expressed hesitation. Hanouna said that Zidane adopted a much stricter stance than current manager Didier Deschamps.

“Zinedine Zidane will not be as nice to him as Didier Deschamps,” Hanouna told Foot Mercato. “Kylian Mbappé acted a bit like a diva—’yeah, there are a lot of injured players, I don’t know if I’m going to play’—and Zinedine Zidane told him, ‘well, you know what, you’re not going to play, thank you, you stay right there.'”

“There were caprices with Didier Deschamps, but he let things slide a bit more, and Zidane doesn’t mess around,” Hanouna told Foot Mercato.

“Know that it’s getting hot between Mbappé and the France team group; it’s going badly with his teammates and Zidane. I tell you, bravo Zinedine Zidane, you have cojones. He’s not leaving the group; Zidane told him, you’re not playing this match, but if you behave well, Sunday you will play.”

Zidane addressed the media in a press conference ahead of the fixture to downplay speculation regarding the forward’s absence due to injury, contrasting with the details later shared on the W9 broadcast.