Eduardo Camavinga forced to withdraw from France squad through injury
- Eduardo Camavinga has pulled out of international duty this month
- Real Madrid midfielder suffered injury in France training
- Juventus target Khephren Thuram called up as replacement
Real Madrid midfielder Eduardo Camavinga has withdrawn from international duty after suffering an injury during France training on Wednesday.
Camavinga was unable to complete the session and later went for scans, accompanied by the team doctor. The French Football Federation (FFF) have since confirmed that the 21-year-old suffered a sprain to his right knee. As a result, he has returned to his club.
Although France have already secured qualification for Euro 2024, it is a blow for Camavinga as this month's games against Gibraltar and Greece offered an opportunity to further establish himself as a starter in the build-up to the tournament next summer.
Camavinga has started five of France's eight games since last year's World Cup final. With Madrid this season, he has started 13 out of the 17 fixtures so far across all competitions, a more regular role than he had during 2021/22. Crucially, only two starts have been as a stand-in left-back.
Local reports have claimed Camavinga faces over a month on the sidelines, which would see him miss Madrid's remaining two Champions League group games as well as La Liga clashes with Cadiz, Granada, Real Betis, Villarreal and Alaves.
In Camavinga's plance for France, coach Didier Deschamps has opted to give an opportunity to OGC Nice midfielder Khephren Thuram. The 22-year-old, son of 1998 World Cup winner and French legend Lilian, made his senior debut as a late substitute eight months ago but was yet to be called up again.
Thuram has been playing regularly for a Nice side still unbeaten in Ligue 1 in 2023/24 and challenging Paris Saint-Germain in a developing early title race. But this could already be his final season with them.
90min has previously reported that Thuram is the subject of interest from not only PSG, but Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur, Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund and Juventus too. It is the latter who hold the strongest interest due to the loss of Paul Pogba over an impending doping ban.
But Juve have another advantage given that Thuram Sr. spent five successful years in Turin and is keen to see his son follow in those footsteps. Thuram's older brother, Marcus, has also relocated to northern Italy in recent months, joining Inter after a four-year spell at Borussia Monchengladbach.
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