"I had a hard time stomaching it" - Antoine Griezmann opens up on France captaincy snub, details relationship with PSG's Kylian Mbappe
Forward Antoine Griezmann has said that the France captaincy snub was tough but insisted that he's completely behind Paris Saint-Germain's (PSG) Kylian Mbappe.
Les Bleus former captain Hugo Lloris retired from international football earlier this year. Griezmann was perhaps the crowd favorite to take over the armband, but manager Didier Deschamps picked Mbappe instead.
The Atletico Madrid man admitted that it was a tough decision but saod that he understood Deschamps' reasoning. The 32-year-old acknowledged that he's in the twilight of his international career, telling Telefoot:
“It was hard to take, and tough. I’m 32 and, although I still have the legs, I know I’m reaching the end (of my career). I had a hard time stomaching it for one or two days."
Griezmann, though, added that he has no hard feelings towards Kylian Mbappe as he extended his support to the forward.
"I’m fully behind our captain Kylian. I won’t change anything because that’s who I am," he said.
Griezmann has scored 43 goals and provided 36 assists in 120 games for France. He was a key player in their 2018 FIFA World Cup triumph, winning the Silver Boot, scoring four goals, and also provided four assists.
Kylian Mbappe says he wants to stay at PSG for another year
Kylian Mbappe recently announced that he won't trigger a one-year extension clause in his contract with PSG, which expires in 2024. He could now leave the club as a free agent next year.
As per reports, though, the Parisians are looking to cash in on the forward rather than losing him for free next year.
As per 90min, Real Madrid are highly interested in making another attempt to bring Kylian Mbappe to the Santiago Bernabeu. The Frenchman was heavily linked with the Spanish giants last summer, but he decided to extend his stay in Paris instead.
Amidst these reports, the forward told Telefoot that he wishes to stay with Paris Saint-Germain next season.
"I have already said before that I’d stay (at PSG). I have only decided to play at PSG next season. Many things can happen in a year, especially at a club like PSG," Mbappe said.
Kylian Mbappe is the Parisians all-time top scorer, with 212 goals in 260 games, along with 98 assists. He has won five Ligue 1 titles and three French Cups there, among others.