Mayulu, 20, earns first France call-up as Mbappé misses Italy match
Senny Mayulu, a 20-year-old midfielder at Paris Saint-Germain, has been called up to the senior France squad for the first time after injuries ruled out captain Kylian Mbappé and midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni from the UEFA Nations League matches against Italy and Türkiye. The French Football Federation (FFF) announced the call-up on Wednesday, 11 November 2026, and confirmed it on its official website.
Mbappé will miss Thursday’s match against Italy in Milan. France coach Zinedine Zidane confirmed the absence at a press conference, saying: “a bit of discomfort, nothing major, he should be fine for Sunday.” Zidane said he hoped the injury was not serious and that Mbappé would be available for Sunday’s match against Türkiye.
Senny Mayulu: first call-up to France’s senior squad
Mayulu was already at the French national training centre in Clairefontaine with the under-21 team when he was called up. He travelled to Milan on Wednesday to join the senior group. The FFF has not released a detailed explanation of how the squad was changed, and the official statement does not say which player Mayulu replaces. The Paris Saint-Germain midfielder is the first player from that club to be called up to the senior side in this window, and his selection comes at a time when several first-choice players are unavailable.
Mayulu named as Tchouaméni’s replacement, Kroupi for Thuram
French press reports, cited by the Africa Soccer website, say Mayulu was first called up to replace Tchouaméni, who left the squad with an injury. Eli Junior Kroupi, of Bournemouth, had already been called up earlier as a replacement for Marcus Thuram, who was also injured. Kalulu also left the list.
- Tchouaméni: out of the squad with an injury; Mayulu reported as his replacement
- Marcus Thuram: injured; Eli Junior Kroupi, of Bournemouth, called up as his replacement
- Kylian Mbappé: remains on the squad list but will miss the match against Italy
Italy v France: match details and Türkiye game in Bordeaux
France play Italy at San Siro, in Milan, on Thursday at 19:45 GMT, which is 16:45 in Brasília time. The match is part of the UEFA Nations League. France lead their group with 10 points from four matches and are aiming for a place in the quarter-finals. Reports say France advance to the quarter-finals if they beat Italy at San Siro.
Italy coach Roberto Mancini was asked about Mbappé’s situation and answered in a light-hearted tone: “I would suggest he doesn’t risk it.” The remark came before the match, and Mancini did not comment on Mayulu’s selection. France’s next match is against Türkiye on Sunday, in Bordeaux. The official source does not confirm the year of that game, and the match is not listed on the FFF website as a home game in Paris.
- Match: Italy v France, Nations League
- Stadium: San Siro, Milan, Italy
- Kick-off: 19:45 GMT (16:45 Brasília time)
- Next match: France v Türkiye, Sunday, Bordeaux
- France group position: first, with 10 points from four matches
Mbappé’s injury: what is known so far
Mbappé would be missing his fourth consecutive match for France, counting the matches he has already missed. He did not play France’s previous match against Türkiye, on 25 September, because of a left knee injury. He also left early from the squad for Zidane’s first call-up as France coach. This is the fourth straight match he has missed for the national team.
The FFF has not released details about the severity of Mbappé’s injury. Press reports describe the problem in different ways: some say it is a muscle problem in the thigh, others mention slight pain, and others use the word discomfort. Sportingpedia says there is only hope that he will return, depending on his recovery. French press reports, which the federation has not confirmed, also point to tension between Mbappé and some teammates after public comments linked to the Ballon d’Or.
It is not yet known whether Mayulu will play against Italy. The FFF has not confirmed the details of his selection beyond the announcement. Whether Mbappé will be fit for the Sunday match in Bordeaux also remains unconfirmed.
