France lose Konaté to knee sprain as United's Yoro steps in
At a training session on Thursday, Ibrahima Konaté of Real Madrid felt a sharp pain in his right knee and was immediately withdrawn, prompting the French federation to announce his exclusion from the squad. The 27‑year‑old defender suffered a "light sprain" that will keep him out of the upcoming Nations League fixture.
Medical assessment and official statement
According to the federation’s communiqué, Konaté underwent an MRI on Wednesday, confirming a minor sprain to the right knee. The statement added that the French medical team and Real Madrid’s doctor consulted cordially before confirming his unavailability for the national side.
Replacement and club outlook
Leny Yoro of Manchester United was summoned as Konaté’s replacement, joining the squad for the match against Turkey in Istanbul on Friday. Real Madrid later clarified that the defender has a "right knee lateral ligament injury" but gave no timetable for his return, noting that Spanish media expect his first club appearance after the FIFA window to be against Villarreal on 10 October.
Zidane's France lose defender ahead of Nations League clash with Turkey
The French side will debut in the UEFA Nations League on Friday, facing Turkey in Istanbul. The federation reiterated that Konaté remains available for Real Madrid once cleared by club doctors.