Chelsea transfer target Christopher Nkunku has posted a message on social media after pulling out of Les Bleus' World Cup squad with injury.
The attacker suffered a knee sprain in training on the eve of the tournament with France starting their group stage less than one week later. It comes as Nkunku is playing in the best form of his career after registering 35 goal contributions in Bundesliga last season.
This attacking flair caught the eye of Chelsea over the summer but he signed a new deal to warn off suitors. That only lasted a matter of months though with Todd Boehly moving in an ambitious deal to bring him in on a pre-agreement for 2023.
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The 25-year-old was expected to join the Blues next year with hope that he may even be a surprise January deal to bolster Graham Potter's misfiring attack. Those talks may now be halted though as he attempts to regain fitness during the competition.
In training he appeared to buckle whilst Real Madrid midfield Edouardo Camavinga lunged in for the ball, and less than one day after the training session that ruled him out of his first major international tournament, Nkunku posted a message on social media, saying: (translated from French to English) "Yesterday evening, following medical examinations, I had to leave Les Bleus and forfeit the World Cup.
"Now it's time to work with one and only objective: to come back even stronger.
"A thought for my teammate Eduardo Camavinga, unfairly targeted. The World Cup must be a moment of communion and not of division.
"Thank you to all the staff and my teammates for their support. I will be your first supporter, make us proud!"
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