French Star Kylian Mbappe Receives Support from Teammate Ibrahima Konate Amidst Rising Criticism
French international and Real Madrid superstar Kylian Mbappe has been facing increasing criticism and pressure from fans and media alike. However, he has just received some much-needed support from his international teammate and Liverpool defender, Ibrahima Konate.
Ahead of France’s UEFA Nations League match against Israel, Konate defended Mbappe in a press conference, expressing concern over the immense attention the star forward is receiving. Konate claimed that the constant spotlight on Mbappe is bound to take a toll on any player, and he couldn’t help but put himself in Mbappe’s shoes.
Konate stated, "Sometimes I put myself in his shoes, and if I had all this hype around me, I don’t know if I would have held on… He managed to do it and he continues to do it. He may have a psychological breakdown in his life, I have no idea, but I would like to discuss it with him. But you have to put yourself in his shoes. Everything that revolves around him is. He has no life! He has no life! And it must be hard for him."
Mbappe’s move to Real Madrid from Paris Saint-Germain in the summer transfer window was met with disappointment from French fans. Despite being left out of the France squad due to injury concerns, Mbappe played for Real Madrid in their Champions League game against Lille and started their LaLiga match against Villarreal. This absence from the French squad but readiness to play for Los Blancos has left French fans fuming, resulting in them booing Mbappe during the Merengues’ Champions League defeat away to Lille.
Konate expressed shock at the booing by Lille fans, comparing his reception on his return to France with Mbappe’s. "I don’t understand why he [Mbappe] is being booed in Lille. When I played against Toulouse with Liverpool [in the Europa League last season], they gave me an exceptional welcome. The Liverpool players really thought that I had played with Toulouse in my career. I think he is over that, but it must not be easy to experience that in his country, it’s weird all the same," Konate said.
Mbappe will stay in Spain during the international break to continue his rehabilitation after his injury setback. In his absence, Aurelin Tchouameni, Mbappe’s Real Madrid teammate, has been named as Les Blues captain for their upcoming matches against Israel and Belgium.
As Mbappe navigates this challenging time, he can take comfort in the support of his teammate and friend, Ibrahima Konate. The pressure on the young star is undeniable, but with people like Konate by his side, he may be able to find a way to manage the intense scrutiny and shine on the pitch once again.
