Zidane set to spring a surprise with Sunderland's Enzo Le Fée for first France squad

Zidane's first squad

Since being appointed head coach of the French national team, Zinedine Zidane is due to announce his first squad list on Friday for upcoming Nations League matches — away to Turkey on September 25, away to Belgium on September 28, at home to Italy on October 2, and again against Belgium on October 5 at the Stade de France. According to Sports.Orange, other possible surprise picks include Esteban Lepaul, Andy Diouf and Pablo Pagis, but particular attention is being paid to 26-year-old midfielder Enzo Le Fée.

From Lorient to Sunderland

Le Fée, who is from Brittany, currently plays for England's Sunderland, which he joined in January 2025 while the club was still in the Championship. Before that he had a brief spell at AS Roma. At Sunderland he reunited with coach Régis Le Bris, whom he knows from their time together at Lorient. If called up, it would be his first experience with the senior France team — he has previously represented France at U20 and U21 (Espoirs) level, as well as the Olympic team at the Tokyo 2021 Games.

A magician's mindset

In an interview with The Telegraph, Le Fée revealed that had he not become a footballer, he would have liked to become a stage magician. He can perform tricks with cards and coins, a skill he learned as a child from his father and grandfather, and he still practices to perfect them. He says the same mindset applies to his football — he wants to create chances, disrupt the opposition's structure and make things happen rather than simply keep possession. He named Barcelona greats Andrés Iniesta, Sergio Busquets and Xavi as his inspirations, whose mastery of the ball he tried to emulate as a small, slight youngster. Le Fée says his aim is to entertain and excite the crowd.