Ibrahima Konate has been called up to the senior France team in place of Manchester United’s Raphael Varane.
Didier Deschamps’ team opened their Nations League defense with a 2-1 loss to Denmark in League A Group 1 on Friday night, during which Varane was substituted due to a hamstring injury.
After first being ignored by Deschamps, the centre-back has now been ruled unable to continue this month, allowing Konate to gain his first call-up for Les Bleus.
In Varane’s absence, Konate joins the likes of Jules Kounde, Lucas Hernandez, Presnel Kimpembe, and William Saliba as Les Bleus’ central defensive alternatives.
During the 2021-22 season, Konate made 29 appearances for Liverpool, scoring three goals and winning the EFL Cup and FA Cup in his first season with the Reds.
France’s Nations League campaign continues on Monday night with a visit to Croatia, where they will face Croatia in a rematch of the 2018 World Cup final.
