The Lion or the Rooster? Malang Sarr on the FFF’s Radar
Still not called up by Senegal despite his desire to join the national team, Malang Sarr, defender for RC Lens, now seems to be on the radar of the French Football Federation.
After a solid season with Lens, currently sitting second in Ligue 1, Sarr wants to continue his rise on the international stage with the country of his roots. “I said it was a goal a few months ago, and it remains the same. […] If the call comes, it will be a great joy for me,” the Nice native told L’Équipe in September 2025.
Despite this wish, he has yet to be called up by Senegal, and the FFF might want to seize the opportunity. According to Senegalese journalist Makhtar Dime, the French federation is looking into his profile for upcoming gatherings. The aim is twofold: to strengthen an already rich defensive line with Dayot Upamecano, Ibrahima Konaté, and William Saliba, and possibly to “block” Sarr to secure his future in the Blue jersey. This is a strategy Didier Deschamps has used before with Boubacar Kamara and Maghnes Akliouche.
At 27, the former Aiglon is at a pivotal moment in his career. Highly promising at Nice, his early move to Chelsea in 2020 was tough, marked by limited playing time and unproductive loans to Porto and Monaco. Now settled at Lens, he seems to be finally tapping into his full potential.
A Possible Pressure Play?
However, it’s wise to take this information with a grain of salt. The competition for central defender spots in the French team is fierce, and the FFF’s interest could also be part of a positioning game. Some observers suggest this might be an indirect message from Sarr’s camp to push Senegal to make a decision quickly. Either way, Pape Thiaw would be smart to call him up during the March break to clarify his international future.
Senegal Remains an Option
Eligible for the Lions of Teranga, Malang Sarr was not selected for the last AFCON due to strong competition in central defense with Kalidou Koulibaly, Moussa Niakhaté, Mamadou Sarr, and Abdoulaye Seck. In the short term, he could aim for the role of the latter, who is 33 years old, although Seck has shown his reliability when called upon.
