Following the announcement of Hazard, Madrid have been given another good news after France manager Didier Deschamps confirmed Lyon left-back Ferland Mendy will be joining the Spanish giants this summer.
The French international has been linked with a move to the Los Blancos all summer and was rumoured to have even undergone a medical at the Spanish capital. It looks like the rumours are now true after Deschamps confirmed the 24-year-old will link up with the All Whites next season.
Speaking at to the press ahead of France Euro qualifiers against Andorra, Deschamps said that a €50 million (£45m/$57m) transfer has been agreed between the Ligue 1 club and Real. “Ferland has a spectacular growth, he was in Ligue 2 two years ago and he will be at Real Madrid [next year],” said the World Cup-winning coach. “He has both feet, with us he has been good every time he had to play.”
There is yet no announcement from either Lyon or Real regarding the transfer, but should Mendy join the side from the Spanish capital, he will become their third signing this summer, following the transfers of Luka Jovic and Eden Hazard last week.
If the deal does indeed take place, it will mark the end of an incredible two years for the defender, who in the 2016/17 second was playing second-tier football for Le Havre. However, he has excelled since his 2017 move to Lyon – for an estimated €6 million (£5m) – and has been voted in the Ligue 1 Team of the Year in both seasons he has played in the division.
His superb showings in recent years mean he has established himself as one of the best young left-backs in world football, although the 24-year-old can also operate in midfield. As well as excelling at club level, Mendy has become a vital part of Deschamps’ France squad, despite competing with the likes of Benjamin Mendy, Lucas Digne and Lucas Hernandez for a left-back berth. Mendy played in Saturday’s shock 2-0 defeat to Turkey in their Euro 2020 qualification group and is expected to feature against Andorra on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Deschamps has hit out at his team’s performance in the 2-0 loss to Turkey in their Euro 2020 qualifiers. The result meant France lost the top spot to the Turks who are now three points clear of the Les Bleus in group H.
“When there is a collective performance like this, there is nothing to retain positive,” the 50-year-old told TF1 . “We did not play our game against a team that played as they like, and we were not present. “If we play with no intentions, even though we are world champions, this is what happens.
“We took a good slap tonight and we will analyse it. There is nothing else to say. “Congratulations to Turkey and we should return to our basics.” France will hope to get back to winning ways when they take on Andorra on Tuesday night.