Griezmann admits he is uncomfortable being under Mbappe

Striker Antoine Griezmann said he felt frustrated at not being able to compete for the French national team captaincy with his younger teammate Kylian Mbappe.

After goalkeeper Hugo Lloris and center-back Raphael Varane retired from international football, coach Didier Deschamps was torn between captaincy choices. Without Lloris and Varane, Griezmann wore the captain's armband, as he did in the defeat against Denmark on September 26, 2022, in the Nations League. However, in March 2023, Coach Deschamps announced that he had chosen Mbappe as captain. Media reports suggested Griezmann was upset and might leave the national team.

Griezmann (right) and Mbappe celebrate a goal after France's 3-1 victory over Poland in the Round of 16 of the World Cup on December 4, 2022, at the Al Thumama Stadium in Doha, Qatar. Photo: Marca

"It's true that I find this decision hard to accept," Griezmann told Telefoot . "I'm 32 years old and nearing the end of my career, but I'm still fit enough to run. The decision made me feel uneasy for a few days. But now I'm fine, and I fully support captain Mbappe."

Mbappe captained France in all three matches this year, and the 25-year-old striker will continue to hold this position in the future. He could be considered the official captain of France after Lloris's tenure from 2008-2022.

French media also suggested that Mbappe was jealous of Griezmann's influence in the national team in 2021. At that time, Griezmann was the linchpin of the team's play, and almost every pass went through him. In the 2022 World Cup, the Atletico Madrid striker continued to play a key role in the team, but Mbappe shone brighter, winning the Golden Boot award.

Griezmann has rediscovered his form at Atletico Madrid, after a less-than-successful 2019-2022 spell at Barca. Last season, he scored 15 goals and provided 16 assists in La Liga, helping the team finish third in the league. Griezmann has stated that he will not leave Atletico for PSG in the summer of 2023, despite interest from the French club.

Hoang An

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