Leny Yoro has received his first senior call-up to the France national team after Real Madrid defender Ibrahima Konaté was forced to withdraw from the squad because of a knee injury. The 20-year-old Manchester United centre-back has now been added to Zinedine Zidane’s first squad since taking charge of Les Bleus in July, giving Yoro an unexpected opportunity to make his international debut.

Yoro’s inclusion comes shortly after a difficult period at club level. He faced criticism following Manchester United’s Carabao Cup defeat to Brighton, when United surrendered a two-goal advantage before conceding three times. Despite that setback, Zidane has decided to give Yoro an opportunity alongside several other newcomers as he begins reshaping the national team.

France’s squad includes a number of fresh selections, with Guillaume Restes, Andy Diouf, Jérémy Jacquet, Lucas Da Cunha and Esteban Le Paul also receiving opportunities. Zidane has also made notable decisions regarding established players, leaving Aurélien Tchouaméni and Marcus Thuram out of the Nations League squad. His approach suggests an emphasis on assessing different options and giving selected players meaningful opportunities during the international break.

France will begin the campaign against Türkiye on September 25 before facing Belgium on September 28 and Italy on October 2, followed by another meeting with Belgium on October 5. Kylian Mbappé was absent from training on Tuesday because of flu, adding another issue for the new coaching staff to monitor. For Yoro, the call-up represents a major step in his development and a chance to introduce himself to the senior international setup.