Patrick Vieira tells Krepin Diatta to find a club quickly after Senegal omission

Patrick Vieira has told Krepin Diatta he must resolve his club situation quickly if he is to return to the Senegal squad.

Diatta was the most notable omission from Vieira’s first Senegal squad, despite having been a regular under former manager Pape Thiaw and playing every minute of the Lions’ 2026 World Cup campaign.

Vieira made clear that the decision was not based on the 27-year-old’s ability, but on his lack of competitive football since leaving AS Monaco.

“He has no club and has not played, which is why he is not on the list,” Vieira said at a news conference.

Diatta has been without a club since his contract with AS Monaco ended and has yet to agree a move elsewhere. The versatile Senegal international has won 65 caps and scored 2 goals for the Lions, while being capable of playing in several positions on the right.

AS Roma, managed by Gian Piero Gasperini, had considered Diatta as an option because of his suitability to the attacking wing-back roles used by the manager. That move did not materialise, however, and Konyaspor are now reported to be close to signing him.

Vieira has not ruled out Diatta’s return to international football. Instead, the new Senegal manager said he valued the player and expected him to regain his place once he had re-established himself at club level.

“He is a player I like a lot. He had a very good World Cup. He must resolve his problem as quickly as possible so that he can be selected for the national team,” Vieira added.

The message combines a warning with an encouragement: Diatta needs to find a club, regain his rhythm and play regularly before the door to the Senegal squad can reopen.

His standing with the Lions had grown steadily over several years. Under Thiaw, he became an almost automatic starter, while his performances at the World Cup further strengthened his position in the team’s hierarchy.

Diatta’s exclusion also illustrates one of Vieira’s early principles as Senegal manager. He has said he wants to protect the team’s identity and continuity rather than “break everything up”, but established reputations alone will not guarantee selection.

Even a player with 65 caps who started every match of the most recent World Cup must provide enough evidence of his form and fitness at club level to be called up.

For Diatta, the route back appears straightforward: sign for a club and return to action. Until then, his increasingly prolonged spell without a team will continue to keep him out of Vieira’s plans.