Nantes' Der Zakarian sidelines summer signing Yousuf

Un quiet morning at the Stade de la Beaujoire sees FC Nantes preparing for a Friday trip to Laval, yet the squad remains far from settled. Coach Michel Der Zakarian will be without Fabien Centonze and Sékou Doucouré, and a summer signing, Libyan defender Ali Yousuf, is not in his plans.

Injuries thin the defensive options

Le FC Nantes will travel to Laval for the second Ligue 2 matchday with a roster still in flux. Fabien Centonze is sidelined by a knee problem, while Sékou Doucouré copes with a thigh issue, leaving the back line depleted. Several staff decisions are already being questioned ahead of the fixture.

The defensive shortage forces the coach to reassess his options, but the situation is compounded by the presence of a newcomer who has yet to feature.

Yousuf excluded despite training

Among the unsettled choices, the case of Ali Yousuf stands out: the Libyan defender trains at the Jonelière complex but has no immediate match perspective. Selon le point médical et sportif publié mercredi par Tribune Nantaise, Il a participé à l’entraînement sans être retenu pour le déplacement en Mayenne.

The report Yousuf suffers no announced injury, yet he remains outside the travelling group for the Mayenne trip.

Michel Der Zakarian retains an extra option in training but does not integrate Yousuf, as Nantes continues to search for defensive stability after a false start against Red Star.

The coach admitted a lack of control in the previous game and expects an immediate reaction, while the defense will be without Centonze and Doucouré.

Douc noted the need for defensive depth, highlighting that the decision to leave Yousuf at Nantes appears driven more by sporting hierarchy than medical necessity.

It would be excessive to read this as a permanent exclusion; Ligue 2 demands rotation and a player can quickly regain a place as injuries dictate. With less than three weeks before the transfer window closes, Yousuf’s status merits close monitoring as the club strives to find its defensive footing.