Kingsley Coman has once again been called up by France boss Didier Deschamps for the upcoming World Cup qualifying matches this month after the winger left Bayern Munich in the summer to join Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr. The 29-year-old has defended the coach's decision to keep him in the squad, claiming he is just as good as he was when called up as an injury replacement in September.
Deschamps trusts Coman despite leaving Europe
Deschamps has called up the former Bayern Munich winger for France's upcoming World Cup qualifying matches against Azerbaijan and Iceland. This call is no coincidence. Despite his summer transfer to Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia, Coman remains a valuable player for the coach of Les Bleus. The Parisian-born player, now a teammate of Cristiano Ronaldo, Sadio Mane and Joao Felix, is enjoying this continuity while firmly defending his career choice.
AdvertisementGetty Images Sport'You don't lose your qualities' – Coman responds to criticism
Faced with doubts about his departure from European football, Coman was keen to clarify his position. In an interview with , the 29-year-old winger responded candidly:"I played in Europe for 10 years and I've only been there for a month. You don't lose your skills. I'm the same player I was at Bayern. I'm not going to lose my level in a year either (laughs). I'm always ready to help the national team. I'm sure I can maintain my level. I'm going to continue to want to be the best player I can be. And I still have my knowledge of the top level."
These words reflect the confidence of a player who is convinced that the change of league does not call into question his ambitions or his place in the national team.
Coman brings the wealth of experience with him
With 59 caps and eight goals for France, Coman has played in major competitions but has never established himself as an undisputed starter. His transfer to the Saudi Pro League therefore raised questions. Some observers feared that he would gradually drift away from the rigours of top-level European football.
But for Coman, such criticism is no longer important: "I've learned to ignore what everyone else thinks."
He goes on to defend the growing standard of the Saudi league: "What I see is that we have a good squad and that we would be competitive in Europe. I'm not going to lose my rhythm: I play a lot more there than I did at Bayern last season. Between playing 20 minutes at Bayern and playing every game, which is better? People think it's easy, but between the league four years ago and today, it's much more competitive."
AFPComan aims remain indispensable to Les Bleus
Since joining Al-Nassr this summer, Coman has quickly settled in, delivering strong performances alongside stars like Ronaldo. In just nine appearances across all competitions, he has tallied three goals and five assists – a promising start after an inconsistent spell at Bayern Munich, where injuries and competition limited his impact.
Now enjoying regular minutes in Riyadh, Coman is regaining confidence and form, proving he can still influence games at the highest level. His resurgence hasn’t gone unnoticed by Deschamps, who continues to prioritise performance when selecting his squad. With the 2026 World Cup qualifiers underway, Coman aims to solidify his place in the national team and dispel doubts about his move to Saudi Arabia.
