A member of the defensive ranks at La Liga giants Barcelona has this weekend been forced into a premature departure from national team duty.
The player in question? Clément Lenglet.
Stopper Lenglet for his part featured from the off during the week, as France were put to the sword by five goals to four in a thrilling Nations League meeting with Spain.
The 29-year-old endured a tough outing, before ultimately being hooked from proceedings during the 2nd-half.
And as alluded to above, as much, it has since been revealed, came owing to a fitness concern.
As per a statement on the part of the French Football Federation, relaid by Mundo Deportivo:
‘Didier Deschamps, the national team coach, decided, following discussions with the player, to release him to join his club this morning.’
Lenglet is understood to have picked up a hip issue.
The former Sevilla man will now return to Spain to link up with Diego Simeone’s Atlético Madrid, with a view to the upcoming Club World Cup.
All the while, Lenglet’s representatives remain in constant contact with parent club Barcelona, in an effort to finalise a permanent parting of ways between the parties this summer.
Conor Laird – GSFN
