Didier Deschamps plays down reports Kylian Mbappe will be named France captain

France manager Didier Deschamps has denied that he has already named Kylian Mbappe the new captain of the national team.

With Hugo Lloris stepping away from international duty after the World Cup, Deschamps is in need of a new captain and had been set to hand the armband to his vice-captain, Manchester United centre-back Raphael Varane, only for the 29-year-old to surprisingly announce his own international retirement soon after.

It leaves Deschamps with a decision to make and reports have suggested that he has settled on PSG striker Mbappe, although the boss has stressed the process is still open.

“The situation for Kylian, or any player at club level, is not the same as the one he has here with the national team,” Deschamps said. “That won’t lead me to my decision, it’s more through discussions.”

However, Deschamps did concede that Mbappe is in the running for the role.

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“I’m going to use these first few days with the group to discuss it with the players concerned,” he explained. “Obviously, Kylian is one of those players. So, you’ll know a bit more the next time I see you. In other words, the day before the game, on Thursday.

“I think if [Mbappe] has one quality, in addition to all his other qualities, it’s that he’s someone who is pretty good, very good at communication. So, I don’t think that’s a problem on that side.

“But, well, I can’t tell you any more because I haven’t decided today.”

Mbappe has worn the captain’s armband for PSG in recent weeks in the absence of the injured Marquinhos and may be set to take the responsibility for the national team on a permanent basis.