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da bet esporte： This article is part of Football FanCast’s Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba’s haircuts to League Two relegation battles…
Following a report in The Telegraph during the summer that suggested West Ham United centre-back Issa Diop was on the verge of a call-up to the senior France squad, the 22-year-old would surely have been hoping his chance was imminent with Aymeric Laporte missing through injury for the latest round of international fixtures.
The call never came though, with Barcelona’s Samuel Umtiti the man drafted in by Didier Deschamps instead despite only being a bit-part player for the La Liga outfit in recent times – he hasn’t played a single minute this term, which suggests he was selected because of his name and reputation, rather than for his form.
That first snub may have been disappointing given the former Toulouse man continues to be a consistent starter at the heart of the Irons’ backline, but he would have been buoyed again when it was confirmed that Umtiti himself was pulling out having picked up a foot injury.
Even then, Deschamps decided against calling another centre-back up, which meant that Diop remained in London training with the club who employs him instead.
That surely would have been a bitter blow for the 6 foot 4 defender, given those reports over the summer.
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Of course, it is often said that those players featuring for the bigger clubs in Europe are more likely to get attention and receive international honours, and the call-up for Umtiti only backs up that theory.
The problem West Ham have is that they don’t want a player on their hands who will feel that his best opportunity at representing his country is to leave the London Stadium.
As per The Telegraph report previously quoted, Manchester United have shown some potential interest previously, and they are clearly a club that can easily turn a player’s head.
Given the centre-backs in this previous France squad represent Chelsea, Real Madrid, Lyon and Barcelona, Diop already faces a difficult task to displace players playing regularly for those clubs.
West Ham must hope that the 22-year-old isn’t in a rush to make his name for Les Bleus, because if he is then an exit could become increasingly tempting for him, and the interest is clearly there from bigger clubs.
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