Zidane excludes Kanté from first squad and pays tribute to him

Zinédine Zidane has officially closed the N’Golo Kanté chapter in the French national team. During the press conference to unveil his first squad as manager on Friday, the 1998 Ballon d’Or winner confirmed the absence of the Fenerbahçe midfielder and hinted, without stating it explicitly, that his international career was likely over.

“Yes… Well, I didn’t call N’Golo Kanté. It’s true that it’s a choice. Now, I believe there are players to help this team evolve. It has nothing to do with his extraordinary qualities, what he did for France, he was a magnificent player that I adore,” Zidane told the press.

The new manager insisted on the respect he holds for the player while fully assuming his decision. “I never had the chance to meet him, but you’re giving me the opportunity to tell him well done for what he did, what he is and the exemplary player he has been. But that’s it. These are choices. First gathering. N’Golo is thirty-five years old and I have four years — I hope — at the head of this France team and I made different choices.”

Succeeding Didier Deschamps, who has been in charge since 2012 and was the architect of France’s second World Cup title, Zidane wanted to bring fresh blood while preserving a certain continuity. Kanté, who earned 69 caps with 59 starts and two goals for France, left his mark on the Deschamps era, notably during the 2018 World Cup triumph.

With this first squad, Zidane is outlining a long-term project, betting on a generation set to play a role over the next four years. N’Golo Kanté’s international career, meanwhile, appears to be truly over.