Mbappé Warns Italy to Back Off Deschamps: ‘He Belongs to Us’ Says France Captain

France captain Kylian Mbappé has delivered a pointed warning to the Italian Football Federation, making clear he does not want his long-serving coach Didier Deschamps to take charge of a rival national team once his tenure with Les Bleus concludes.

Speaking on French television network M6, the Real Madrid forward addressed the growing speculation linking Deschamps to the vacant Italy head coach position. “I’ve seen the reports linking him with Italy. That would be unfortunate,” Mbappé said. “Didier is French; he belongs to us. I see him smiling, and he’s also more flexible. In the past, I knew him as being tougher, but his strength lies in his ability to adapt to new generations. We’re trying to make the most of his presence and pay tribute to him by winning the way he likes.”

Deschamps’ departure from the France setup is already confirmed — the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America marks the end of a tenure that began in 2012, spanning 14 years and culminating in a World Cup triumph on home soil in 2018. It is one of the most decorated managerial runs in the history of the national team.

Despite Mbappé’s public stance, Deschamps himself has not ruled out continuing in management. The former Juventus midfielder and champion coach acknowledged he would be “available” for new opportunities once the tournament concludes, stopping short of closing the door on any specific role.

Italy’s managerial situation remains unresolved. The Azzurri are in the process of identifying a permanent successor following their own coaching transition, with a decision expected after the FIGC presidential elections scheduled for June 22, 2026. According to reports from several Italian outlets, former Italy manager Roberto Mancini — who stepped down from the Saudi Arabia national team — is considered the favourite to return to the role.

Mbappé, however, appears to be placing his hopes on a deep World Cup run as the most effective means of persuading Deschamps to walk away from international football altogether rather than move to another nation. France are among the tournament’s leading contenders, and a successful campaign in North America would represent a fitting conclusion to Deschamps’ historic reign.

Deschamps took over as France manager in July 2012 following the team’s disappointing exit at Euro 2012. In the years since, he guided the squad through a runners-up finish at Euro 2016 on home soil before delivering the 2018 World Cup title in Russia — France’s second such triumph after 1998. He also led the side to the 2022 World Cup final in Qatar, where they were beaten on penalties by Argentina.

With Group stage fixtures now underway at the 2026 World Cup, France’s performances over the coming weeks will be closely watched — both for their title prospects and for what they may mean for the future of their outgoing manager.