Khaberni - French national football team captain Kylian Mbappé stated on Thursday that he feels "more comfortable in Madrid" compared to Paris, attributing this to a "different living environment."
Mbappé is expected to participate in Friday's match against Azerbaijan as part of the European qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup.
Mbappé, who suffered an ankle injury during his team Real Madrid's Spanish league match against Villarreal last weekend, expressed his desire to play, noting that "the coach wants me to play and I don't think I will face any major issues."
National team coach Didier Deschamps commented, "It's not decisive, but it depends on how sensitive his ankle is."
About last season, which was his first with Real Madrid after moving from Paris Saint-Germain, Mbappé acknowledged, "A professional career might have somewhat more complex years. But in life, I think I adapted well in Madrid. It's not an attack on France, but it's true that I am more relaxed there. In Madrid, the atmosphere is different. It's less rhythmic than Paris."
He added: "I managed to score goals. But I think that even in play, I'm also in a good mood, even though I believe I can still perform better."
He continued, saying: "It's part of the evolution of a person and a player. I have gotten used to Madrid mentally and football-wise. But we must continue, because we are still at the beginning of the season."
Explaining his role as a forward, he said: "I enjoy a lot of freedom in the attack, but I start from a more central position. I run and have different situations. This allows me to expand my range and possess more skills."
Mbappé also spoke about wearing the number 10 jersey, saying: "When you look at the players who have worn this number, you find that they are players who have left their mark on different generations, like (Michel) Platini and (Zinedine) Zidane. I try to leave my own mark; it's a very important number in the history of the French national team, even though I don't have the characteristics of a playmaker."
