Didier Deschamps explains Ayyoub Bouaddi’s omission from France squad amid Morocco interest

Didier Deschamps has addressed his decision to leave out rising midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi from the latest France national football team squad, while keeping the door open for a future call-up.

The France head coach unveiled a 26-man squad on Thursday ahead of upcoming friendlies against Brazil and Colombia later this month in the United States. Despite Bouadi’s impressive performances for Lille, the young talent was not included in the selection.

Speaking at a press conference, Deschamps made it clear that the decision was not final and that the player remains firmly on the radar.

“I saw that Bouaddi was not called up to the Moroccan national team. He has the freedom to choose, and I will not take that away from him. I did not speak to him, and I will not change my work style. Of course, we are following his performance, but the competition is fierce,” the experienced coach said.

The French coach pointed to the depth of options available in midfield as a key factor behind the omission, stressing that competition for places remains intense within the squad.

“I have chosen six players in midfield, but there are others who have already joined us and could be added. I will not preempt what I will decide next May. After that, you will have to consult someone else, as I will not be the one to decide,” he explained.

Deschamps also explained that his decision to expand the squad was driven by the demanding schedule and uncertainty surrounding player availability.

“I expanded the squad for very specific reasons, as there will be very close matches, there will be matches this weekend, and we don’t know what will happen… We made sure to anticipate that and to have several options in each position,” he added.

Bouadi’s international future remains a subject of growing interest, with reports suggesting he could still switch allegiance.

According to Foot Mercato, the Lille midfielder has already given a verbal indication of his willingness to represent Morocco following discussions with officials from the Royal Moroccan Football Federation.