Konaté returns to Real Madrid with a sprain as France lose starter

Ibrahima Konaté, a key defender in José Mourinho's plans, left the France training camp and returned to Madrid with a slight strain of his right knee, the French national team announced on Thursday.

Injury and replacement in the French national team

The diagnosis, confirmed after an MRI scan, forced Leny Yoro to be called up to replace the Real Madrid centre‑back in the upcoming Nations League fixtures.

Konaté will miss the four scheduled matches: Turkey on Friday at 20:45, two games against Belgium (September 28 and October 5) and the clash with Italy on October 2.

Impact on Real Madrid

For Real Madrid, the absence of the French defender represents another setback in an uneven start to the season, although Mourinho could have him available for the club’s next match against Villarreal on October 10 at 21:00.

Zidane's France lose defender ahead of Nations League clash with Turkey

Konaté had started in every match for the team, except the encounter against Málaga, establishing himself as a mainstay in the Merengue defence.

Yoro, Zidane’s new addition

Zinedine Zidane, newly appointed manager of France, decided to call up 20‑year‑old Leny Yoro from Manchester United to cover Konaté’s absence.

Yoro, transferred to the English club in the summer of 2024 for €62 million, had amassed 33 appearances in all competitions during the 2025‑2026 season, although his prominence waned toward the end of the Premier League under Michael Carrick’s guidance.

Konaté out due to injury, Zidane calls up young Leny Yoro

This call‑up is his first appearance with the senior national team, after having been part of the hopefuls group at Clairefontaine and being called up for the trip to Turkey.