Mbappe outlines “truth” behind Giroud row which hit France’s Euro 2020 campaign

Kylian Mbappe has revealed the truth behind his Euro 2020 row with compatriot Olivier Giroud which threatened to split the French team in a tell all interview

Kylian Mbappe has revealed the “truth” behind his row with Olivier Giroud during a fractious French Euro 2020 campaign.

The French superstar has opened up in an interview with French sports newspaper L’Équipe.

He spoke candidly about his ongoing situation at PSG and desire to leave and about France’s unsuccessful Euro 2020 campaign, including his row with Giroud.

Despite heading into the competition as favourites, France would crash out in the Round of 16, losing on penalties to Switzerland.

Mbappe would miss the penalty that saw Les Bleus get knocked out and see the French camp split by infighting and arguing.

The divided atmosphere plagued the camp throughout and affected a previously close-knit group, it included players mothers getting involved too.

One of the standout rows was that between French superstars Mbappe and Giroud shortly before the tournament began.

After a game against Bulgaria, Giroud came out and implicitly criticised Mbappe for not passing to him enough.

Mbappe publicly responded saying the row would not affect the team but that Mbappe had been “a little affected” by it.

In his most recent interview, Mbappe spoke about what had happened.

He said: “It [the row] dragged on, because people dragged it on. I am going to tell you the truth: that night, I was enraged, but two days later, I was not thinking about it anymore.

“I had it out with him, I told him what I had to say, and afterwards it was over.

“Certainly, it dragged on in terms of the media, people, there was always this shadow over the head of the team, but it was not a problem for us.

“I had a difference of opinion, yes, that played out in public because it began in public.

“Because it started in public, it had to end in public, it is simple. But I do not have any problem with him, I wish him the best, I see that he has started well with Milan.

“If he comes back to the French national team, I will welcome him with open arms. He was very close to breaking Thierry Henry’s record, it would be a shame if he was not given this possibility.”

This comes as Mbappe confirmed he has asked to leave PSG over the summer transfer window.

In the interview, Mbappe confirmed that after the Euros he told the Parisian club of his desire to leave.

He said his intention was to give them enough time to find a replacement and allow a deal to go through that would work for everyone involved.

Added to that, the 22-year-old wanted to avoid leaving on a free, to ensure PSG got money for him because his contract runs out at the end of this season, meaning he can and will leave for free.

He added: “But the club decided not to sell me. I was OK with that. I kept playing for the whole month of August and was putting in good performances.

“I don’t have an issue with that, I’m still at a big team and in a place where I’ve been happy for four years.”

Then when asked about whether the arrival of Lionel Messi might convince him to stay Mbappe was adamant, he said: “No, because I don’t make decisions on sudden impulses. I had made my decisions and I had thought long and hard about it.”