Leny Yoro has received his first senior France call-up after Ibrahima Konaté suffered a knee injury.
The Manchester United defender now has a chance to impress Zinedine Zidane during France’s Nations League campaign this week. Online sports betting enthusiasts could be watching an altered France defence.
Konaté Ruled Out With Knee Injury
Ibrahima Konaté has withdrawn from the France squad after suffering a minor right-knee injury in training. The Real Madrid (1.29) centre-back felt pain during Wednesday’s session before undergoing an MRI scan. Results showed that Konaté had suffered a slight sprain to his right knee. Consequently, the defender has been released from the France camp and will return to Real Madrid for treatment. The injury rules him out of France’s first four Nations League matches under Zidane.
Konaté had been selected for Zidane’s first squad as France manager. His withdrawal is therefore a setback for the new coach before his first competitive matches in charge. France will face Türkiye on Friday before travelling to Belgium three days later. Italy then await in October, with Belgium completing the four-match sequence. Zidane will now have to assess his available defensive options without one of his established centre-backs.
The Real Madrid defender’s absence comes at an important stage of his club career. Konaté joined the Spanish giants after leaving Liverpool in the summer. He has already made seven appearances in all competitions for his new club this season. Therefore, the injury interrupts his early adaptation to life at the Bernabéu while also preventing him from featuring in Zidane’s first France matches.
Yoro Earns First Senior Call-Up
Leny Yoro has been promoted from France’s Under-21 squad to replace Konaté. The 20-year-old was already at the national training centre in Clairefontaine with the Under-21s. As a result, he did not need to travel far to join the senior squad. Instead, Yoro simply moved across to the senior setup after Zidane made the decision to call him up.
The Manchester United defender’s promotion represents his first senior France call-up. Yoro had previously represented France at youth level but had not been selected for the senior team. Now, he has an opportunity to work directly with Zidane and the rest of the senior squad. The timing is particularly notable because the former Real Madrid manager is beginning a new era with Les Bleus.
Yoro could also make his France debut during the current Nations League window. France’s opening match comes against Türkiye on Friday, while Belgium are next on Monday. Italy will then visit France on October 2, before Belgium return for another fixture on October 5. Therefore, the defender has four possible opportunities to make his senior international debut.
Yoro’s Manchester United Situation
Yoro’s call-up arrives after an uneven start to the new season at Manchester United. The defender has featured in four of the club’s opening seven matches, according to current reports. However, his Premier League involvement has been limited. Yoro has played only 22 minutes in the English top flight, with both appearances coming from the bench.
The centre-back has started in other competitions, though. Yoro began Manchester United’s Champions League match against Sabah and also started the EFL Cup defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion. Those appearances have given him competitive minutes despite his limited Premier League involvement. His France call-up now provides another opportunity to demonstrate his qualities at a senior international level.
Manchester United signed Yoro from Lille in 2024 after competing with Real Madrid for his signature. The English club completed the deal for an initial €62 million, with a further €8m potentially available in add-ons, according to ESPN’s reporting at the time. Yoro had emerged as one of Ligue 1’s most highly regarded young defenders before moving to England.
His development has therefore been closely followed since he arrived at Old Trafford. Yoro was only 18 when Manchester United signed him, yet the club viewed him as a defender capable of developing into a top-level centre-back. Two years later, he has now reached another significant milestone with his first senior France selection.
Zidane Begins a New France Era
Zidane’s decision to select Yoro adds another young defender to a France squad undergoing transition. The former World Cup-winning midfielder officially takes charge after Didier Deschamps’ long spell as national coach. Zidane’s appointment had been widely anticipated before it was confirmed following the 2026 World Cup.
The new manager has already handed opportunities to several uncapped players. Yoro is the latest addition after several changes caused by injuries and withdrawals. Robin Risser and Warren Zaïre-Emery were among the players previously forced to withdraw from the squad. Their absences led to further changes before the Nations League campaign began.
Yoro’s inclusion also gives Zidane a chance to assess another option in central defence. France have several established choices in that position, including William Saliba and Dayot Upamecano. However, Konaté’s injury has created an immediate vacancy. Yoro can now compete for minutes while gaining experience within the senior setup.
France Face Four Nations League Matches
France’s schedule leaves little time for experimentation. The opening fixture against Türkiye takes place on September 25. Belgium follow three days later before Italy arrive in October. Belgium then provide the opposition again on October 5.
That schedule could give Yoro valuable exposure if Zidane decides to use him. The defender has already trained within the French setup during this international window. He can therefore begin working with the senior players immediately rather than waiting for another international break. A debut would mark the latest step in his rapid rise from Lille prospect to Manchester United defender and France international.
For Zidane, the immediate priority is preparing France for the Nations League matches. Konaté’s injury removes one experienced option from the squad, while Yoro provides a younger alternative. The situation also allows the new manager to assess how his defensive plans function with different combinations. Meanwhile, Yoro will hope to use the unexpected opportunity to establish himself in the senior picture.
The call-up is another major milestone for a player who remains only 20 years old. Yoro joined Manchester United as one of Europe’s most closely watched young defenders. Now he has entered the senior France setup for the first time, with a chance to make his international debut during Zidane’s opening campaign. His immediate opportunity has come because of Konaté’s injury, but his performances will determine how much he features in the weeks and months ahead.
Yoro Gets Chance to Impress Zidane
Yoro’s promotion gives him an opportunity that was not originally expected during this international break. He had been preparing for Under-21 fixtures before Konaté’s withdrawal changed his plans. Now, he is part of Zidane’s senior squad and could face some of Europe’s strongest international teams.
The Manchester United defender will also be looking to make an impression on his new national coach. Zidane has already shown a willingness to introduce new players during his first squad selection. Yoro can therefore use the Nations League matches to demonstrate his defensive qualities and his readiness for international soccer.
France’s latest change underlines how quickly international squads can shift because of injuries. Konaté was expected to form part of Zidane’s plans, but a training-ground injury has changed the picture. Yoro has consequently moved from the Under-21 setup into the senior team within a matter of hours. For the young defender, that unexpected promotion could become one of the most significant moments of his career so far.
