At his press conference after announcing his first France squad of the year, Didier Deschamps was notably asked about his plans for the captaincy, in the wake of the international retirements of both Hugo Lloris and Raphaël Varane after the World Cup.
The national team manager indicated that there were several potential candidates for the armband within the squad, and named Kylian Mbappé as a potential successor to the Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper. Deschamps also dismissed the option of a rolling captaincy, telling the media that he would rather have a set captain and vice-captain. Sources contacted by Get French Football News last month had explained that Mbappé was the favourite to take up the role, at just 24 years of age.
This afternoon, Deschamps pointed out that he had not yet made his decision, and that he would be having discussions with the players beforehand. Asked whether Adrien Rabiot was a potential candidate, the double World Cup winner underlined the Juventus man’s experience and leadership, but explained that he did not see him with the armband – “I don’t know if, deep down, he really wants the captaincy. He’s very good the way he is now anyway.”
GFFN | Raphaël Jucobin
