It’s official — Zinedine Zidane has named his first France squad as national team head coach, and Real Madrid supporters will be scanning that list with serious interest. Three Los Blancos stars have earned call-ups: Kylian Mbappé, Ibrahima Konaté, and Eduardo Camavinga are all included as Zidane prepares to lead Les Bleus into a run of UEFA Nations League fixtures.
What Happened
Zidane unveiled his maiden squad on Friday, September 18th, with the group set to face Türkiye, Belgium (twice), and Italy across an upcoming block of international fixtures. It’s a significant moment — the legendary midfielder-turned-manager made his long-awaited return to the France dugout earlier this summer, and this is the first official player selection of his tenure at the helm of his home nation.
Alongside the three Real Madrid representatives, Barcelona’s Jules Koundé also received the nod from José Mourinho’s Bernabéu rivals’ camp — making it a four-man La Liga El Clásico contingent in the squad. The full France group, as confirmed by transfer insider Fabrizio Romano, reads as follows:
Goalkeepers: Maignan, Restes, Risser.
Defenders: Andy Diouf, Jacquet, Pierre Kalulu, Konaté, Koundé, Lacroix, Truffert, Upamecano.
Midfielders: Camavinga, Cherki, Da Cunha, Manu Koné, Rabiot, Zaïre-Emery.
What It Means for Real Madrid
For Madrid fans, having three key players involved in a major international window is always a double-edged sword. On one hand, it’s a badge of honour — when your squad is packed with world-class internationals, you know the club is operating at the very top level. On the other, the workload management conversation never goes away, especially when players like Mbappé are expected to carry the weight of an entire nation’s expectations alongside their club commitments.
Mbappé’s inclusion will come as little surprise. The Frenchman is one of the most high-profile footballers on the planet, and regardless of how his club form has fluctuated at any given moment, he remains absolutely central to France’s attacking plans. Zidane knows him well from their shared French football heritage, and you’d expect Mbappé to be the focal point of whatever system Zidane deploys with the national side.
Konaté’s call-up is a nod to what has been a strong period for the centre-back since his arrival at the Bernabéu. Commanding, composed, and dominant in the air, he provides France with a serious defensive option alongside the other central defenders in the group. For Real Madrid, having a fit and confident Konaté returning from international duty in good spirits is exactly the scenario Mourinho’s backroom staff will be hoping for.
Camavinga, meanwhile, continues to cement his status as one of Europe’s most exciting midfielders. Still young by footballing standards but already carrying significant experience at the highest level, his inclusion in Zidane’s first squad underlines just how highly he is rated. The Frenchman’s ability to press, carry the ball, and contribute in both halves of the pitch makes him a natural fit for however Zidane wants to structure his midfield.
What’s Next
For Real Madrid supporters, the immediate focus shifts to how the club navigates this international break. With Mbappé, Konaté, and Camavinga all heading off to represent France, Mourinho and his coaching staff will be working with a reduced group at Valdebebas — using the time wisely to recover players, fine-tune tactics, and hopefully get everyone back to club training without any fitness scares.
The Nations League schedule is competitive, and Zidane will be eager to make a statement in his opening matches in charge. Expect all three Madrid men to feature prominently. When they return to club football, the hope is they come back sharp, confident, and ready to push on — because La Liga and the Champions League wait for no one, and Real Madrid’s season ambitions demand everyone firing on all cylinders.
One thing’s for certain: having Zinedine Zidane — that Zinedine Zidane — calling the shots for France adds an extra layer of intrigue to every international break from here on out. The man is woven into the very fabric of Real Madrid’s greatest moments, and watching him build something with the French national team is going to be fascinating for Madridistas everywhere.
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For official club updates, visit Real Madrid’s official website.
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