Real Madrid locker room atmosphere among the French: Mbappe and Kante fall out?

What would you say if someone told you that N'Golo Kante had fallen out with a teammate? Naturally, you wouldn't believe it. The Fenerbahce midfielder is one of the nicest people in football, according to everyone who knows him, from teammates to coaches and staff members.

But what if someone told you he had fallen out with Kylian Mbappe? It would sound much more plausible, wouldn't it?

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Not that the France national team captain has a reputation as a troublemaker, but some things are quite indicative.

Paris Saint-Germain desperately tried to win the Champions League with him, and once he left, the Parisians achieved that dream - not once, but back-to-back!

On the other hand, Real Madrid won their last (15th) UCL trophy two years ago, and Mbappe was supposed to make their squad even more ruthless and ease the pursuit for number 16. Instead, Los Blancos ended the season empty-handed both domestically and in Europe. On top of everything, their locker room became toxic due to constant arguments, fights, and tensions.

And now, the dressing room atmosphere from Santiago Bernabeu seems to have crept into Didier Deschamps' squad.

Prior to the friendly game between France and the Ivory Coast - which Les Blues surprisingly lost 2-1 - Kante, who started on the bench, went from one starter to another, greeting them. Except for one - Mbappe. In fact, the 35-year-old walked past the captain as if he were invisible, though he didn't show any reactions, either.

According to Marca, the root of their potential conflict might have emerged months ago, on Kante's birthday, March 29, during another friendly match, between France and Colombia. Then, the ex-Chelsea midfielder was a starter and a skipper, while Mbappe came off the bench in the 78th minute and immediately demanded that Rayan Cherki take the captain's armband from Kante and hand it to him.

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For now, there is no confirmation of any rift. On the contrary, Marca quoted a French journalist who called the whole story "nonsense", yet the footage has inevitably fuelled speculation, especially given the scrutiny Mbappe has been under in recent months, as he's lately often been followed by controversy wherever he goes.

Coincidence?