France's newly elected captain Kylian Mbappe has revealed Antoine Griezmann's reaction to missing out on the armband.
Following the retirement of long-standing captain Hugo Lloris from international football this year, France head coach Didier Deschamps recently announced that Mbappe would be his successor ahead of their UEFA European Championship qualifiers.
The 24-year-old was only rivalled by Griezmann for the role, who was said to have been upset about not being elected given his superior experience and loyalty to the nation's manager, with reports also suggesting he was considering retirement as a result.
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Mbappe has since confirmed that the Atletico Madrid star was in indeed "disappointed" with the decision, but that the two of them have spoken things out.
"I spoke with Antoine because he was disappointed," the Paris Saint-Germain superstar said ahead of Les Bleus clash against Netherlands on Friday, according to the Daily Mirror.
"It's a reaction that I can understand. I told him that in his place, I might have had the same reaction. He is 32 years old, he was one of the best, if not the best, of the Didier Deschamps era.
"I told him that I am not his superior. He has experience in the France team that I don't have, which is valued by the whole group. We need him and his joie de vivre.
"We are going to be hand in hand, him and me, to try to make this French team reign at world level. If he has something to say in front of the group, I will sit down and listen. Everyone is free to express themselves in this group."
The 2018 World Cup winner added: "Putting aside the responsibilities, it is above all a great pleasure. When the coach asks you if you want to become captain, your mouth immediately says yes. I did not think about it at all.
"He wants me to be a unifier, and lead the team. And that I can be a link between the old guard and the new generation and lead this team to win titles."
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