The Blues are back. And Adrien Rabiot too. Beyond the first selections of Houssem Aouar (Lyon), Dayot Upamecano (Leipzig) or the young (17) Eduardo Camavinga (Rennes), the surprise of Didier Deschamps' list for the League of Nations matches in Sweden (5 September) and against Croatia (September 8), it is indeed the presence of the midfielder of Juventus, six times international. A player who had not been seen in Blue since March 2018, in Russia (3-1 victory), and who had blamed himself by refusing to be part of the reservists for the 2018 World Cup. " We continued to follow him, promises Deschamps. He found a very good level with Juventus Turin. It happened what happened ... We can't go back, neither us nor him. You know me: I don't like to take radical positions. He remained selectable and I made the decision to have him come back with us to this rally. "
Pogba and Ndombélé positive for coronavirus, Matuidi in withdrawal
Note that the national coach must do without the services of several circles for this first gathering since ... November 2019, Paul Pogba and Tanguy Ndombélé, positive for the coronavirus. Blaise Matuidi? His choice to join MLS and Inter Miami "complicates the situation with regard to the France team", as Deschamps points out, taking care to specify that nothing is set in stone.
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The proof with Adrien Rabiot, of which one could think that his future in Blue was blocked for many years… Even until the end of the mandate of Didier Deschamps! Rabiot, the one who says no. No to play in 6. No to overtime in Paris. No to the Blues. Blurred image. And it is not the offensive communication - even totally above ground, bordering on inconsistency - of his mother and agent, Véronique, which helps the 23-year-old midfielder to redeem himself in the eyes of the general public. Never mind, he kept a low profile and worked in Turin. Enough to win in the eleven of Maurizio Sarri, the now ex-coach of Juve.
"I consider it a mistake on his part and I think he too"
Didier DeschampsAnd therefore find a place in the France group. Nothing is forgotten. But the "pragmatic" Deschamps decided to pass the sponge, considering simply that he has no reason to deprive himself if he thinks that "it is a good for the team of France and that it does not weaken nor neither the player nor the team ”. Especially since unlike other players, Rabiot never attacked Deschamps head-on, even if he flouted the team spirit and the jersey by refusing to see his name lying on the list reservists. "I consider it a mistake on his part," said 'DD', looking back on 2018. I think him too. But there was no harsh words or aggression. ” Not towards Deschamps. Madame Rabiot still treated the president of the French Football Federation (FFF), Noël Le Graêt, as a "liar" no later than last January ... But the boss is Deschamps. Do not be afraid of his established authority. "If you have any concerns about that, I can take them away from you in a second, in a tenth of a second," he smiles.
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And the former captain of the Blues to continue: “We will have the opportunity to discuss. I want to stay fair. Adrien, I know him. I will not be able to take away the disappointment of not having been part of the 23. We are talking about a player who still has many years ahead of him. Others may have had a complicated situation. That did not prevent me from recalling them. " Like Karim Benzema tomorrow? There, "DD" preferred to evade a pirouette. Two rooms, two atmospheres… Responsibility for Rabiot to pick up the thread of his thwarted history in Blue.
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