Matteo Guendouzi appears to have his career back on track with Serie A side Lazio, and he’s now likely to return to the French national team.

REGGIO NELL'EMILIA, ITALY - OCTOBER 21: Matteo Guendouzi of SS Lazio kicks the ball during the Serie A TIM match between US Sassuolo and SS Lazio at Mapei Stadium - Citta' del Tricolore on October 21, 2023 in Reggio nell'Emilia, Italy. (Photo by Marco Rosi - SS Lazio/Getty Images)
REGGIO NELL’EMILIA, ITALY: Matteo Guendouzi of SS Lazio kicks the ball during the Serie A TIM match between US Sassuolo and SS Lazio at Mapei Stadium – Citta’ del Tricolore on October 21, 2023. (Photo by Marco Rosi – SS Lazio/Getty Images)

Ever since his move to Arsenal in 2018, Matteo Guendouzi has been in and around the French national team setup.

Initially, that was with the France u21s, but he quickly progressed to the first-team squad in 2019. From then until the 2022 World Cup, he was always with either the France u21s or the first team whenever he was fit.

But that picture changed in 2023. Guendouzi dropped out of the France squad for the March international break, and he didn’t return in June, September, or October.

The 24-year-old was fully fit in all four cases, but his declining form with Marseille saw him falling out of favour with Didier Deschamps.

France's midfielder Matteo Guendouzi (C) gestures in front of France's head coach Didier Deschamps during a training session in Clairefontaine-en-Yvelines on November 12, 2019, as part of the team's preparation for the upcoming qualification Euro-2020 football matches against Moladavia and Albania. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP)
France’s midfielder Matteo Guendouzi (C) gestures in front of France’s head coach Didier Deschamps during a training session in Clairefontaine-en-Yvelines on November 12, 2019, as part of the team’s preparation for the upcoming qualification Euro-2020 football matches against Moladavia and Albania. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP)

Guendouzi ended up moving on loan to Lazio on deadline day this summer, and he’s already made 12 appearances for the Serie A side since then, playing in every one of their games.

Corriere dello Sport (via GIFN) report that Guendouzi has impressed with his new club, adding that Deschamps is pleased with the former Gunners’ progress.

There is reportedly belief that Guendouzi has matured as an individual, with his improving disciplinary record acting as evidence of that.

The midfielder is yet to pick up a yellow card in Serie A, though he did receive one in the last minute of Lazio’s recent Champions League defeat to Feyenoord.

Bukayo Saka is congratulated by Arsenal s Matteo Guendouzi right after the final whistle Copyright: John Walton
Bukayo Saka is congratulated by Arsenal’s Matteo Guendouzi right after the final whistle Copyright: John Walton

Whether Guendouzi has really turned a corner remains to be seen, as does whether he’s done enough to convince Deschamps to recall him to his squad.

It won’t be long until the international squads for the November break are confirmed and we get an answer to the latter uncertainty, at least.