Theo Hernandez’s international future already appears doubtful after he shunned a post-season meet up with the France Under-21 squad to apparently spend time at the beach.
The defender, whose brother Lucas is one day tipped to win honours with the senior squad, has spent a successful season on loan from Atletico Madrid to Alaves and is considered to be one of the rising stars of La Liga.
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However, when called by new France U21 boss Sylvain Ripoll, he seems simply to have ignored his request by seemingly heading to the beach with Alaves team-mate Carlos Vigaray.
Although he has not posted pictures on his own social media accounts, Vigaray has, while other photographs have circulated on Twitter of the player enjoying himself in Marbella.
“I’ve not had an explanation at the moment,” Ripoll noted. “I’ve taken note and he’ll probably be called in the coming weeks.”
The 19-year-old full-back cannot be punished by FIFA because it is not time marked on their international calendar, but the French FA are entitled to take internal action, and that is not likely to reflect well on the player, particularly with such strength in depth in the France panel.
The young French side will tackle Albania and Cameroon in friendlies on June 5 and 9 respectively.