Como’s Butez included in preliminary France squad for Zidane’s first camp in charge | OneFootball

Reports in France and Italy indicate that Como goalkeeper Jean Butez has been included on France’s preliminary squad list ahead of the extra-long September-October international break, which will see Zinedine Zidane take charge of Les Bleues for the first time.

Zidane expected to call several Serie A players to his first France squad, potentially including Butez

Zidane, called in to replace Didier Deschamps as head coach of the France national team, will begin his tenure with Nations League fixtures against Turkiye on September 25, Belgium on September 28, Italy on October 2 and Belgium again on October 5.

PARIS – JULY 26: Former French football player Zinedine Zidane arrives on stage during the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 on July 26, 2024 in Paris. (Photo by Loic Venance – Pool/Getty Images)

Like many coaches across Europe, Zidane is expected to name an extra-large squad to get him through the bumper international break. Reports in France claim that he could summon as many as 50 players in his first squad. Germany’s Jurgen Klopp has called up 44 players across two separate squads and recent reports in Italy suggest that Roberto Mancini will work with at least 30 players in the coming weeks.

Typically, national teams will compile a preliminary squad around a fortnight before their final squad announcement in order to inform the players in question, and their clubs, about the possibility of their being selected.

Several names from Zidane’s preliminary squad have been leaked in France over the last few days and the latest updates from l’Equipe on Thursday indicate that Como’s Butez is among the longlist.

NAPLES, ITALY – FEBRUARY 10: Jean Butez of Como 1907 celebrates with his teammates after making the decisive save in the penalty shootout during the Coppa Italia Quarter Finals match between SSC Napoli and Como 1907 at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on February 10, 2026 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)

Recent reports claim that Inter’s Andy Diouf is also in the France preliminary squad, as is Juventus’s Pierre Kalulu.

There are also several other more established France internationals based in Serie A who are likely to be involved, including Milan pair Mike Maignan and Adrien Rabiot, Inter striker Marcus Thuram and Roma midfielder Manu Kone.