Player Focus: Fekir Opts for France but What Next for His Club Career?
"No one is affecting my son except me, and God willing he'll be joining the Algeria national team soon, the decision has already been taken in a family meeting.” Those were the words of Nabil Fekir’s father Mohamed at the end of last year, so it’s fair to say that fans of Algerian football are less than impressed with the Lyon man’s decision to pledge his international allegiance to france’s a decision that isn’t without precedent but one that irks more than the likes of Zidane, Benzema and Nasri’s. Fekir is the 7th Franco-Algerian to opt for les Bleus since Algeria’s independence but the first of those to really go back on his word – or at least his father’s – having seemingly expressed a desire to represent green over blue’s true that it has been the player’s father that has pledged his son’s future to the nation of his heritage rather than his birth on multiple occasions in the past. Mohamed Fekir stated last October, "My son Nabil has made his decision, he will only play for the Algerian team. He chose his country out of conviction and he will be very proud to make his debut." The very next day the forward accepted a call-up to France’s U21 squad and when questioned on his international future, said, “For now, let's enjoy the present moment."Fekir is certainly doing that right now, with two exquisitely taken goals against Montpellier at the weekend helping Lyon to a 5-1 win and keeping PSG at bay at Ligue 1′s summit for another week. Both finishes required a great deal of technique and confidence, first to take on an effort first time after a one-two on the edge of the box and then to chip the keeper and have the audacity to do it without even looking at the goal. It’s this technique and confidence that are arguably his two greatest assets and those that have led to even more questions regarding where his future lies in the domestic arsenal fans will certainly be less hopeful after this apparent international u-turn given that his father also claimed recently “If he leaves (Lyon), it will be for Arsenal. It is the only club that can enable him to progress, with Arsene Wenger.”The chance to sign for the likes of Manchester City does not appeal to Fekir as he fears he would spend too much time on the bench. With no guarantee of regular first team football at the Emirates either, however, the Lyon-born attacker may well be staying put for now, provided OL retain a Champions League qualification interest in his services is expected to be widespread this summer nonetheless, and it isn’t hard to
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