Mbappe opens up on his relationship with Barcelona defender: ‘We roast each other way more’

Kylian Mbappe has offered a glimpse into his friendship with Barcelona star Jules Kounde, admitting that his French teammate has enjoyed the bragging rights in recent seasons.

The French captain was asked about his relationship with Kounde during international duty, and he was very candid in his answer.

Speaking about their interactions away from the national team setup, as quoted by The Touchline, here is what Mbappe said,

“Yeah, we see each other in Spain. We roast each other way more than when I was in PSG.”

The French attacker also admitted that Kounde and Barcelona have had one over him and Real Madrid recently.

He continued, “He’s had the last word a bit more lately since we are not winning at Real Madrid, but we’ve always known how to keep things separate with the national team.”

“He’s a bloke I talk to about lots of things, especially politics,” the Real Madrid forward added.

Mbappe is undoubtedly the star of the France national team and will be looking to make it a hat-trick of successful World Cup tournaments.

Kounde is equally important to Didier Deschamps at right-back, with the Barcelona defender keen to return to his best form during the tournament.

Kounde’s growing status
Kounde has been one of Hansi Flick’s most important players at Barcelona and had a 2024/25 season to remember.

The same cannot be said about his 2025/26 campaign, though, with a dip in form and consistent injuries not allowing him to hit the heights of the previous season.

Mbappe’s remarks reflect that reality. Even as teammates with France, the pair clearly enjoy a competitive rivalry shaped by the ongoing battle between Barcelona and Real Madrid.

Club rivalry stays separate from France duty

Despite the friendly banter, Mbappe was also keen to stress that the rivalry never affects the atmosphere within the French national team.

This is very important, as the dynamics in club football can often spill into the national team setup, and that usually does not create a harmonious atmosphere.

The Real Madrid forward explicitly stated that both players have always known how to keep club matters separate when representing France.

Still, from a Barcelona perspective, it is nice to see Mbappe admit that the Catalan club have had the bragging rights since he moved to Spain.

Mbappe is yet to win a trophy with Real Madrid, and he will be hoping that his fortunes turn in the 2026/27 season.