Football essentials, 1 October: Dembélé buries the Mbappé rift, Ronaldo leaves the Portugal camp, City to pay for its defence

Ahead of France vs Italy at the Stade de France, Ousmane Dembélé has closed the Ballon d’Or debate with Kylian Mbappé, and Cristiano Ronaldo left the Portugal squad before tonight’s match in Denmark. Manchester City has learned the cost of its defence, and Carlos Queiroz has walked out on Ghana again.

Dembélé buries the “social media war” with Mbappé

The first question of the pre-match press conference brought a blunt answer: “These are little wars on social media, I really don’t have the head for that at 29,” said Ousmane Dembélé, who confirmed he had spoken with Kylian Mbappé since the squad met, as RMC Sport reports. The supposed rivalry over the Ballon d’Or stops at the dressing-room door. France host Italy on Friday: the match preview is online.

Henry sums up the Zidane era: “God has arrived”

A guest on RMC’s “Rothen s’enflamme”, Thierry Henry welcomed the man who played alongside him for France from 1997 to 2006 taking over the national team: “God has arrived.” On the pitch, Ousmane Dembélé says he plays under Zidane in the same position he occupies at PSG under Luis Enrique, notes Foot Mercato.

Ronaldo has left the Portugal camp

Left on the bench for the whole win in Norway, Cristiano Ronaldo walked out of Copenhagen’s stadium before Wednesday’s training session, then left the squad in the evening, L’Équipe reports. The affair reached prime minister Luís Montenegro, who called Jorge Jesus and his captain, while the coach is already considering Bernardo Silva and Bruno Fernandes for the armband, notes So Foot. Portugal play Denmark tonight: the match preview is online, and our report follows the saga.

Manchester City to pay for its defence, Etihad protests

Found guilty of 114 breaches of Premier League financial rules, Manchester City could owe the league up to £50m in legal costs, according to The Guardian. Its main sponsor Etihad said in a statement that the case has had “adverse repercussions” on its business since the verdict. The sporting sanction will wait until January: our report sets out the appeal timetable.

Diatta rebuilds at Watford

A free agent since his Monaco contract ended in June, Krépin Diatta has signed a one-year deal at Watford, 20th in the Championship, L’Équipe confirms. Our report covers the Senegal international’s signing.

Italian Super Cup returns to Milan

After four straight editions in Saudi Arabia, the Italian Super Cup will be played in Milan in December as a single match between Inter and Lazio, dropping the “Final Four” format, L’Équipe reports.

Queiroz leaves Ghana again

Appointed in April, gone after the World Cup, back in September: Carlos Queiroz has left the Black Stars for the second time in three months, by mutual agreement announced by the Ghana Football Association on Thursday, after poor results in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, L’Équipe reports. Our report looks at his latest exit.