The change appears designed to keep attention on football rather than the theatre around the squad. Arrivals involving Kylian Mbappé, Michael Olise and Jules Koundé have regularly drawn interest, with Koundé’s outfits becoming part of the wider conversation.
The report says Zidane wants to reduce the risk of off-field controversy and give the squad a more focused start to camp. That approach would mark a clear shift from the open-access atmosphere associated with recent France gatherings.
It also reflects the demands facing a coach taking over one of international football’s strongest teams. Small distractions can quickly become national talking points, particularly when expectations are high.
Zidane reportedly took charge after France’s 6-4 defeat by England in the World Cup third-place match, a result that brought Didier Deschamps’ tenure to an end. Deschamps had already said he would leave after the tournament, closing a period that included the 2018 World Cup triumph and a record 27 matches managed at the World Cup.
The scale of that legacy means Zidane will be judged immediately. His own message - that there is nothing greater than managing France - underlines the ambition attached to the appointment, but the first evidence will come on the pitch.
The report says France’s opening fixture under Zidane will be against Turkey in the UEFA Nations League, followed by Belgium later in September and Italy in early October.
Those matches will determine whether the stricter camp environment becomes a useful foundation or merely a talking point. The next storyline is clear: can Zidane turn a controlled beginning at Clairefontaine into a winning start for France?