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Mbappé could face a hostile home crowd when France host Italy in the Nations League

PARIS (AP) — Kylian Mbappe says he doesn’t care how he’s treated when he returns to the Paris Saint-Germain pitch on Friday.

The French superstar is back in his home country with the national team, where the 2022 World Cup runners-up will take on Italy in the UEFA Nations League at the Parc des Princes.

Mbappe spent seven seasons at PSG before leaving for Real Madrid this summer. He left amid a reported dispute over unpaid wages worth 55 million euros ($61 million) and is likely to face a hostile audience.

“Tomorrow’s reception, I don’t expect much,” Mbappé told a press conference on Thursday. “I don’t care. The important thing is to win.”

Mbappé ended his goal drought in the Spanish league by score both goals in Madrid’s 2-0 victory over Real Betis last week.

“I feel good, physically and mentally,” he said Thursday. “I’m happy with where I am and what I’m doing, and I know it will get better as the games go on.”

Italy and France will start their Nations League campaigns in the A2 group, which also includes Belgium and Israel. Both the French and Italians will be looking to improve after their lackluster performances at the European Championship.

Italy was eliminated of the tournament in the last 16 and Mbappé admitted his tournament had been a failure when France lost in the semi-final and scored only one goal from open play in the league.

Mbappé suffered a broken nose in the opening match of France’s group stage at Euro 2024. In the semi-final, he left the face restrictive mask that he wore, but Les Bleus still lost 2-1 to Spain.

He said he had put the disappointment behind him and that his broken nose did not require surgery.

“I had tests in Madrid, they said surgery was not necessary,” he said. “I have no problems breathing or sleeping.”

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