Clément Lenglet on his France recall for the Nations League finals: ‘I had to check the Internet that it was not a joke.’ | OneFootball

Atlético de Madrid centre-back Clément Lenglet (29) has returned to Didier Deschamps’ France squad for the UEFA Nations League finals. Les Bleus will face Spain on Thursday in Stuttgart. Lenglet was a surprise inclusion in Deschamps’ squad, given he has not played for France since November 2021 and a 2022 World Cup qualifying tie against Kazakhstan. Lenglet, who has spent the season on loan at Atlético de Madrid from Barcelona, has notably benefited from several defensive injuries.

Arsenal centre-back William Saliba was unavailable through injury, just like Bayern Munich’s Dayot Upamecano and Chelsea’s Wesley Fofana. Deschamps has also called up Juventus’ Pierre Kalulu for the first time. Speaking in today’s press conference at Clairefontaine, Lenglet said he scarcely believed he would return in France’s set-up.

The former Aston Villa centre-back didn’t even watch Deschamps’ squad announcement. “I was in a car with some friends, and I received a message of congratulations for the call-up“, Lenglet said. “That’s how I learnt about it. But I had to check the Internet that it was not a joke.”

GFFN | Bastien Cheval