KYLIAN MBAPPE has tested positive for coronavirus after he was pictured hugging and touching France team-mates in training.
The superstar becomes the latest Frenchman and Paris Saint-Germain player to contract Covid-19.
Kylian Mbappe has tested positive for coronavirus on the same day he trained with FranceCredit: AFP or licensors
Mbappe was pictured touching team-mates before being sent home from international dutyCredit: AFP or licensors
Mbappe trained with France on Monday but will now miss tomorrow’s game with CroatiaCredit: AFP or licensors
Mbappe, 21, trained with France on Monday, looking all smiles as he hugged PSG teammate Presnel Kimpembe before touching larking around with Lille ace Jonathan Ikone.
He was also pictured stretching in the middle of a group of teammates.
Mbappe has now left France’s squad with immediate effect, meaning he will miss tomorrow’s Nations League clash with Croatia.
He will now also be absent for the start of PSG’s Ligue 1 campaign, sitting out clashes with Lens and Marseille.
A statement from the FFF read: “Kylian Mbappe will not participate in France-Croatia, Tuesday evening at 8.45pm at the Stade de France.
“The result of his Covid-19 test, carried out by Uefa on Monday morning, was found to be positive, he was placed away from the group after receiving the results, at the end of training, before regaining his home in the evening.
”Like the entire delegation, Kylian Mbappe had undergone a test prior to meeting. The result was negative, like the one last Wednesday, at the request of Uefa.”
Manchester United’s Paul Pogba and Tottenham’s Tanguy Ndombele were both forced to withdraw from international duty before Saturday’s 1-0 win over Sweden after testing positive for coronavirus.
And Mbappe joins PSG teammates Neymar, Angel Di Maria, Mauro Icardi and Leandro Paredes on the sidelines after they too contracted Covid-19 following last month’s Champions League final defeat to Bayern Munich.
He will now self-isolate for a fortnight.
PSG chief Leonardo was left raging at the France national team after finding out his star player contracted coronavirus through the media.
He fumed: “I find it completely unacceptable to learn in the media that one of our players was positive. Nobody at the FFF told us.”
The news is sure to be a bitter blow for both France boss Didier Deschamps and PSG chief Thomas Tuchel.
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Indeed, Deschamps even switched formation to a 3-4-1-2 against Sweden in an effort to get Mbappe closer to goal.
His absence could hand Manchester United’s Anthony Martial a rare international start.
Mbappe has scored 14 times in 35 games for France while bagging an impressive 90 goals in just three years at PSG.
But after their Champions League heartbreak against Bayern in August, Mbappe has called on PSG to splash even more cash in order to land Europe’s top prize.
Paul Pogba withdrew from international duty after testing positive for coronavirusCredit: Getty Images – Getty
PSG duo Angel Di Maria and Neymar have also contracted Covid-19Credit: AFP OR LICENSORS
He told Telefoot: “I am optimistic we will win the Champions League.
“We have to because, if we don’t believe it, no one is going to believe it for us.
“It’s football and you have to get over it. Lots of teams lost a final and won the year after.
“You have to recruit well, you have to buy players. I hope we will have good recruits and we restart with the aim of doing better.”
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
