Italy vs France squads: Market values and most expensive players

Two European powerhouses will renew hostilities in the UEFA Nations League when Italy host France at the iconic San Siro on Thursday.

Second in Group A1 with seven points, the Azzurri, managed by Roberto Mancini, will look to bridge the gap as they sit behind Zinedine Zidane's Les Bleus, who are at the summit of the group with 10 points.

With the stage set for what promises to be a cracker, both nations arrive with not only one of the finest squads, but also some of the most valued players on the planet. But how do their market values really compare?

Here, FootballWhispers examines both squads, highlighting their market values and most expensive players from Transfermarkt's latest available data as of 10 November, 2026.

Italy vs France squads: Market values

Boasting the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Michael Olise, Ousmane Dembele, and Desiree Doue, France have the most valuable squad compared to Italy, with Transfermarkt's November update pinning their overall market valuation at £1.2 billion. This places France among the top three most valuable national teams in the world.

Specifically, the breakdown is as follows:

• Attack: £544m
• Midfield: £341m
• Defenders: £261m
• Goalkeepers: £59m

The data suggests that France's squad is well-stacked with valuable players, with the attack and midfield taking the largest share of the lot.

On the other hand, although the Italian team is valued lower than France, they have their fair share of valuable players. Anchored by top stars like Sandro Tonali, Alessandro Bastoni, and Riccardo Calafiori, the Azzurri's valuation sits at £758 million.

The breakdown by numbers reads:

• Defenders: £317m
• Midfielders: £268m
• Attack: £100m
• Goalkeepers: £73m

From the breakdown, Italy's defence and midfield take the lion's share of the valuation, with their defensive ranks valued significantly higher than France's. Considering Les Bleus' attack, the clash is clearly an attack-versus-defence spectacle to behold.

Comparing both squad valuations, the difference between France's squad (£1.205 billion) and Italy's (£758 million) is £447m. The obvious gap reflects Les Bleus' array of world-class stars across the various sections of the pitch, with several of them valued at £80m and above, while those of Italy's top-rated members are concentrated between £40m and £75m.

Considering the staggering financial difference and the calibre of players paraded by Zidane's side, this could be a definitive factor in where the result tilts on Thursday. However, 11 vs 11 is anybody's game, and with the top spot at stake for the Italians, they will give it their all to win.

Italy vs France squads: Most expensive players

For the current Mancini squad, Italy's most expensive player is Sandro Tonali, who is currently valued at £75m; this is £25m less than Tottenham Hotspur paid for him during the summer. The Spurs midfielder remains comfortably ahead of his national teammates, with Alessandro Bastoni ranked second at £54m.

Arsenal's Riccardo Calafiori and Inter Milan duo Nicolo Barella and Federico Dimarco complete the Azzurri’s top five at £54m, £42m, and £42m, respectively.

As for France, the current most expensive player is unsurprisingly Kylian Mbappe, whose market value stands at £167.3m, making him one of the most valuable footballers in the world. Michael Olise is the country's second-most expensive player at £150.5m, while Desire Doue ranks third with a valuation of £100m.

Premier League duo Rayan Cherki and Bradley Barcola complete France's top five, valued at £92m and £84m, respectively. Former Ballon d'Or winner Ousmane Dembele is also valued at £84m.

Italy vs France squads: Least expensive players

According to the latest Transfermarkt update, Italy's least expensive first-team player is midfielder Riccardo Cassano (uncapped), who is valued at £5m, and jointly followed by Simone Lontani (uncapped) (£5m). Matteo Palma (uncapped) is third at £6.7m, while Luca Koleosho and Mattia Liberali (uncapped) complete the top five, both being valued at £8.4m.

As for France, the least expensive player in Zidane's current team is uncapped right-back Sael Kumbedi, who is valued at £10m. Others include Guillaume Restes (£15m), Adrien Rabiot (£15m), Mike Maignan (£16.7m), and uncapped forward Pablo Pagis (£16.7m).

Italy vs France squads: Transfer records

The record transfer signing within the current France squad is Kylian Mbappe. His blockbuster £166 million move from AS Monaco to Paris Saint-Germain remains the most expensive transfer involving a French international in football history.

As for Italy, their record transfer signing within the current squad is Sandro Tonali, whose 2026 summer transfer from Newcastle United to Tottenham Hotspur for a fee of £100 million set a new record as the most expensive transfer fee ever paid for an Italian footballer, making him the marquee record signing in the Azzurri squad for the Nations League.