Jean Butez, Como's goalkeeper with 19 clean sheets, intrigues Zidane

Jean Butez shared the record for clean sheets in European league football last season with 19 — level with David Raya — and his name is beginning to feature prominently in discussions surrounding Zinédine Zidane’s first France squad list.

Trained at LOSC, the 31-year-old goalkeeper built most of his career in Belgium, at Mouscron then Royal Antwerp, before joining Como 1907 in January 2025 for just 2 million euros. His manager Cesc Fabregas is full of praise for him: “We bought almost unknown players like Jean Butez, who is a star for me. He works hard every day and has become a leader in the dressing room.”

On Sunday, Butez again demonstrated his importance in this attacking Como side that is sometimes fragile defensively: helpless against a strike from outside the box by Rasmus Hojlund in the 30th minute, he saved his team in the 90th by pushing away an attempt by Lorenzo Lucca, sealing a 2-1 victory.

The question becomes even more pressing as Zidane is expected to largely retain Didier Deschamps’ squad for the 2026 World Cup, with some adjustments. Behind regular starter Mike Maignan, 32-year-old Brice Samba could lose his place two years before Euro 2028, while 21-year-old Robin Risser appears assured of staying in the squad.

Butez will also have the opportunity to showcase himself in the Ligue des Champions this season: Como notably face RC Lens and PSG, two clubs that Zidane knows well, in a group that also includes FC Barcelona, Manchester United, Leipzig and Betis. It is hard to imagine the new manager not closely following the performances of the Lille native.