Summoned to the French team by Zinédine Zidane to everyone’s surprise, Saël Kumbedi left the Bleuets to join Kylian Mbappé and his teammates in order to compensate for Pierre Kalulu’s injury withdrawal. And if the Wolfsburg side must appreciate this special moment, Jérôme Rothen is not at all of the same opinion. The former French international still does not understand how the national coach was able to call up a player playing in the German second division.
“It’s not against Kumbedi, I congratulate him for being called up. (…) Go and draw on Hopes, I don’t believe in it. (…) I remain attached to certain principles which are part of the education of a young professional footballer. You have ambitions, the French team, it’s an achievement and it’s deserved. And in this merit, with a capital M, it already requires very high level performances in the club, to play in the most beautiful competition. At worst, if you don’t play the Champions League, you play the Europa League. (…) I start from the principle that you have to play in these biggest clubs, dominate your championship. (…) He’s going to take a player from us, once again, it’s not against him, but you went to Germany, you went down with Wolfsburg… I was watching the results because, unlike Zidane, I don’t see the German 2nd division matches. He doesn’t make me believe he saw the match. (…) The other thing, and this is terrible because this is the second time he has given this speech: “Ah yes, I knew him because he played with my son in the French youth team”. So what? Everyone who played with Zidane’s son in youth, you guys have a chance! »he declared on the microphone of RMC.
