WELSEY FOFANA has pulled out of the France squad for the upcoming international break.
The Chelsea star will not feature in matches against Italy or Belgium after an exchange with boss Didier Deschamps.
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Fofana, 23, has featured in all three of Chelsea’s Premier League fixtures this season.
He has been a part of the backline that has picked up four points from a possible nine before the international break.
The defender will now get a rest during the international fixtures and not play for Les Blues.
This is down to a treatment protocol which has been linked to his previous injuries.
The French FA confirmed that this was the case and revealed that Loic Bade would take his spot.
A statement read: “After an exchange with Didier Deschamps, Wesley Fofana will finally remain at Chelsea’s disposal and take advantage of the international break to follow a treatment protocol, linked to the injuries which kept him away from the pitch for a long time last season.
“Loic Badé (FC Seville) is called up for the first time to replace him.”
Fofana has struggled with persistent injury problems since his big-money arrival at Chelsea from Leicester City.
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The Frenchman was signed by the Blues in an £70million deal back in the summer of 2022.
However, since joining Chelsea, he has missed 77 club and international games with injuries.
France’s national squad
Here is the full France squad for their upcoming matches against Italy and Belgium…
Goalkeepers
- Alphonse Areola
- Mike Maignan
- Brice Samba
Defenders
- Jonathan Clauss
- Wesley Fofana (replaced by Loic Bade)
- Theo Hernandez
- Jules Kounde
- Ferland Mendy
- William Saliba
- Dayot Upamecano
Midfielders
- Youssouf Fofana
- N’Golo Kante
- Manu Kone
- Warren Zaire-Emery
Forwards
- Bradley Barcola
- Ousmane Dembele
- Antonie Greizmann
- Kylian Mbappe
- Michael Olise
- Marcus Thuram
This means that he has been limited to just 23 games at the West London club.
The once highly-rated defender has only earned one cap for France.
This came in a 3-0 Euro 2024 qualifying phase victory over Gibraltar in June 2022.
Following Chelsea’s 1-1 draw against Crystal Palace on Sunday, Fofana insisted he is enjoying his football now he is back fit.
He said: “I am enjoying it. I enjoy every moment.
“After a long period without football, I enjoy everything and I am very happy.
“We now go on international break and we come back and play and win games.”
