“”This is the beginning of a great adventure. I can't wait to be able to start, especially since we're playing two beautiful games. So impatient to be able to bring my stone to the building.Filmed by the cameras of Olympique Lyonnais, Rayan Cherki was smiling when listening to the list of 25 Blues retained by Didier Deschamps to compete in the Final Four of the League of Nations in Germany. At 21, the Lyonnais managed to take advantage of his first big season with the Septuple Champions of France (12 goals, 20 assists) to finally convince the coach to trust him. The international future of the attacking midfielder has not yet been sealed since it is necessary to come into play against Spain in the final (or in the small final) to be definitively “locked” by the Blues.
Algeria is now turning to Akliouche
But in Algeria, the announcement of Deschamps and the joy displayed by Cherki were welcomed without much surprise in the end. For DZ Footthis is simply the announced end of a long soap opera. “”Here, the Rayan Cherki file which has been keeping Algerian supporters in suspense for several years is undoubtedly at the end of closed. (…) Yet on the eve of the listing of the list two bell sounds resounded, the first announcing a choice of Cherki for Algeria or Italy if he was not summoned, even rejecting participation in the Euro Espoirs, while the second announced an assured summons with the French prodigy“, Writes the media which is now focusing on the future of another very coveted binational, Maghnes Akliouche.
The Fennec Gazette Also evokes an all in all logical invitation. “Cherki in the French team: it was written”can we read on the media site which evokes the choice of DD to finally call the Lyonnais after its very good season. “”After a long wait, Rayan Cherki is called to the French team and draws a line on Algeria. (…) The Algerian Federation will have done what it should and what she could, but the player made his choice“, writing Tsa. Rather than putting oil back on fire, most Algerian media therefore opted for a form of fatalism when evoking information. On social networks, the trend is different. It is also enough to read certain comments under Cherki's video posted by OL on X to realize that the player has disappointed and annoyed more than one supporter of the Greens, some of which recall the disappointment experienced after the choice of Nabil Fekir. However, the most temperate Algerian observers like to recall that, unlike an Amine Gouiri who responded favorably to the Fennecs, Rayan Cherki never claimed his desire to play one day with the Fennecs despite the solicitations of the Algerian federation and that his choice is therefore far from a surprise.
“”We can no longer, we must no longer accept to be the joker of the Blues.»»
Information revealed in the columns of The team However, did not go unnoticed on the other side of the Mediterranean. The daily said that Cherki would have threatened to play for the Fennecs or Italy if he was not called by Deschamps for this rally. A pressure stroke denied by the boss of the Blues at a press conference. “How much the possibility he goes with Algeria played in my reflection?” 0. I never prevented a player from choosing, or tried to block it. For those who have double or triple nationality, if I should not take them, I do not take them. When I take them, it's for our needs. »» Cherki really brandished this threat? We may never know, but for many, this new binational affair which ends for the benefit of the Blues continues to confirm that Algeria and the other African selections are the main victims of opportunistic binationals. The media Africa shoot did not go there by four paths to express his fed up.
“Rayan Cherki summoned by Deschamps:” What if we stopped waiting for those who ignore us? ” African football suffers. No lack of talent. No lack of abition. But a lack of respect. The one we refuse too often, even from his own children. The most striking exampled of the day? Rayan Cherki. Convened by Didier Deschamps for the French team, after having circulated that in the event of non-selection, he would opt for Algeria. A barely disguised threat, a silent but cruel blackmail. And in this story, like so many others before him, Algeria becomes the consolation lot. Rescue appeal. The second breath for pending quarries. We can no longer, we must no longer accept to be the joker of the Blues. Because Algeria, and more broadly the abrique, are not rescue options. They are homeland, identities, stories. They deserve heart commitments, not opportunistic decisions. And yet, despite everything, our selections continue to reach out to those who ignore them, who sometimes despise them, as long as a European dream is still possible. »» The message has passed.
