Samuel Umtiti replaces Aymeric Laporte in France squad

FC Barcelona defender Samuel Umtiti will replace Manchester City's Aymeric Laporte in the France squad.

Umtiti was originally omitted from Didier Deschamps squad to face Albania and Andorra in EURO 2020 qualification, however he has now called up the former Lyon man following an injury to Laporte.

Laporte has been infamously overlooked by Deschamps in the past, and this call up was his first to the Les Bleus senior side – however a serious looking knee injury suffered in the 4-0 win over Brighton means the former Athletic Bilbao defender is set to miss out again.

Umtiti has struggled with a knee injury since December 2019, and he has not played for FC Barcelona since May, despite returning to fitness.

Clement Lenglet has been preferred by Ernesto Valverde as Gerard Pique's partner, but Umtiti has generally remained first choice for France, alongside Real Madrid's Raphael Varane. 

Tags Aymeric Laporte Didier Deschamps FC Barcelona France Samuel Umtiti
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