Kylian Mbappé says he isn’t concerned about how he will be received when he returns to the Paris Saint-Germain pitch on Friday.
The French star is back in his home country with the national team as they play against Italy in the UEFA Nations League at the Parc des Princes.
Mbappé spent seven seasons with PSG before moving to Real Madrid this summer. He left amid a reported dispute over unpaid wages of 55 million euros ($61 million), and he might face an unfriendly crowd.
“Tomorrow’s reception, I don’t expect much,” Mbappé said at a press conference on Thursday. “I don’t care. The important thing is to win.”
Mbappé ended his scoring drought in Spain by netting both goals in Madrid’s 2-0 win over Real Betis last week.
“I feel good, physically and mentally,” he said on Thursday. “I’m happy where I am and about what I do, and I know it will get even better as the matches go on.”
Italy and France are starting their Nations League campaigns in Group A2, which also includes Belgium and Israel. Both teams are looking to improve after their poor performances at the European Championship.
Italy was knocked out in the last 16, and Mbappé admitted that his own tournament was a disappointment when France lost in the semifinals and he scored just one goal from open play.
Mbappé suffered a broken nose in France’s opening group game at Euro 2024. In the semifinals, he took off the vision-blocking mask he had been wearing, but Les Bleus still lost to Spain 2-1.
