France defender Ibrahima Konate has been ruled out of the national team’s upcoming Nations League fixtures after suffering a minor right-knee sprain in training. The Real Madrid centre-back has withdrawn from Zinedine Zidane’s squad and will return to his club for treatment.
Konate felt discomfort during Wednesday’s training session before undergoing an MRI scan. The examination confirmed a slight sprain, ruling him out of all four Nations League matches France are scheduled to play during the current international window.
Manchester United defender Leny Yoro has been called up to replace him. The 20-year-old had initially been part of France’s Under-21 squad but has now received his first senior international call-up under Zidane.
Yoro’s promotion comes as Zidane prepares for his first competitive match as France coach. Les Bleus will travel to face Türkiye on Friday before meeting Belgium twice and Italy once during the international period.
Konate’s withdrawal is another setback for Zidane during his first international camp. The coach has already introduced several new players as he begins shaping his France squad following his appointment as Didier Deschamps’ successor.
For Yoro, the call-up represents a significant step in his international career. The former Lille defender has represented France at youth level and now has an opportunity to make his senior debut if selected by Zidane.
France’s opening Nations League fixture against Türkiye will therefore provide Yoro with a potential first appearance for the senior national team, while Konate will begin his recovery ahead of a return to Real Madrid.
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