France manager Didier Deschamps says his decision to leave captain Kylian Mbappe out of the squad for this month's Nations League double-header is a "one-off". The Real Madrid forward was not selected for upcoming matches against Israel and Italy. Mbappe, 25, was left out of France's squad in October for two Nations League matches as a precaution given he had just returned from injury and had been expected to return for selection this month. "I've had discussions with him, it is a decision that I took for this block of matches only," Deschamps said at a news conference on Thursday. "Kylian wanted to come." The forward, who joined Real Madrid on a free transfer last summer from Paris St-Germain, has struggled for form since moving to the Bernabeu. Mbappe has scored eight goals in 15 appearances for the La Liga club but has only netted once in his past five games. Real, who won both the Champions League and La Liga last season, were beaten 4-0 by rivals Barcelona last month and trail the Catalans by nine points in the league. Mbappe, a World Cup winner in 2018, has scored 48 goals in 86 appearances for France Kylian Mbappe has been left out of the France squad in what manager Didier Deschamps is calling a "one-off" decision. The Paris Saint-Germain star, who usually plays a pivotal role for Les Bleus, will miss the upcoming international fixtures as part of a strategic move to manage his workload and recovery. Deschamps reassured fans that there is no injury concern with Mbappe, emphasizing that the decision was made to protect the player's fitness, especially considering the packed club schedule and his importance to the national team in the long term. This absence will offer other forwards a chance to step up, as Deschamps experiments with his squad depth ahead of future competitions. Mbappe’s omission might raise eyebrows, but it reflects a growing trend where managers are more mindful of the physical demands on star players, particularly those like Mbappe who play both at club and international levels year-round. While he’s expected back for France's following matches, this break could benefit both the player and the team as they aim to keep him in peak form for major tournaments. This approach to Mbappe’s management could be seen as a sign of evolving perspectives in modern football, where player welfare is given more consideration. Fans of Les Bleus will undoubtedly miss his explosive pace and goal-scoring prowess in the upcoming matches, but they can look forward to seeing a fresher, fully-charged Mbappe back for France’s next crucial games. For the time being, Deschamps’ choice underscores a larger shift toward safeguarding players’ careers and ensuring they remain at the top of their game for years to come. Mbappe’s absence from the national team will create opportunities for other forwards to showcase their abilities and perhaps even earn more prominent roles in the lineup. With young talents like Randal Kolo Muani, Marcus Thuram, and Rayan Cherki in contention, Deschamps can use this period to assess his squad depth and experiment with different tactical setups. This decision also allows Deschamps to plan for contingencies, ensuring that France has a robust strategy even when their star player is not on the pitch In recent seasons, the growing schedule demands on elite players like Mbappe have raised awareness about the risk of burnout and long-term injuries. Managers across Europe are increasingly mindful of this, balancing the need to win games with the need to sustain player health. PSG manager Luis Enrique has also been supportive of Mbappe’s workload management, which could help maintain his peak form in both club and national duties. Real Madrid, the reigning champions of both the Champions League and La Liga, are facing a challenging period after a surprising 4-0 defeat to their rivals Barcelona in El Clasico last month. This loss not only dealt a blow to team morale but also left them trailing Barcelona by nine points in the league standings, putting their title defense at serious risk. For Real Madrid, catching up in the title race will be a significant challenge, especially with a congested schedule as they balance both La Liga and Champions League commitments. While they are still in contention for European glory, this domestic setback has increased pressure on manager Carlo Ancelotti and his squad to find solutions quickly if they hope to close the gap with Barcelona.