Dayot Upamecano has left the France squad following Thursday’s 3-1 defeat by Italy in the Nations League.
The Bayern Munich defender, 28, was given permission by France manager Zinedine Zidane to return to Munich for personal reasons, according to RMC Sport.
The French Football Federation has not called up a replacement for Upamecano. France are due to face Turkey on Sunday, 15 November 2026, in their final group-stage match of the Nations League.
France suffered their first defeat of this Nations League campaign at San Siro, with the result seeing them drop to second in Group A of League A on 10 points. Italy moved to the top of the group on head-to-head record.
Upamecano’s difficult night against Italy
Upamecano started against Italy at right centre-back alongside Jeremy Jacquet and played the entire match.
He conceded the penalty from which Pio Esposito scored Italy’s third goal in the 75th minute, extending the hosts’ advantage. The Bayern defender also struggled in physical contests and when France attempted to build play from the back.
Those mistakes have raised the possibility that his departure may also have been influenced by sporting considerations, although the stated reason for his release was personal.
Upamecano joins a lengthy list of French absentees during this international break, including Ousmane Dembele, Maghnes Akliouche, Pierre Kalulu and Marcus Thuram.
Captain Kylian Mbappe missed the match against Italy because of physical discomfort but is expected to return against Turkey.
“I hope he will be ready for Sunday,” Zidane said after the Italy game. “In any case, that was the plan: for him to rest today because he had a little discomfort, and then to have the possibility of playing on Sunday. That is what we want.”
France have two defensive options
Zidane has two possible replacements for Upamecano against Turkey: Ibrahima Konate and Leny Yoro, the other two defenders in France’s 23-man squad, alongside Jacquet.
Since Zidane took charge of France, Upamecano started the opening match against Turkey, which France won 1-0. He was then left on the bench for the following game against Belgium, another 1-0 victory.
The Bayern defender returned to the starting line-up against Italy in a match that ended 1-1, but was sent off after receiving two yellow cards. He subsequently missed the next meeting with Belgium through suspension.
Upamecano has won 49 caps for France and scored two goals.
