October 25
Young Player Decides His International Future
Élie Junior Kroupi, the young Bournemouth forward who has attracted interest from Barcelona, has made a decision regarding his international future. He has confirmed that his goal is to represent France, despite also being eligible to play for Ivory Coast and Portugal due to his family background.
Born in the French city of Lorient in 2006, Kroupi is a rising talent who has recently drawn attention by delivering impressive performances for Bournemouth—performances that have put him on the radar of several major clubs.
According to Catalan media, Barcelona’s technical staff is monitoring the young forward’s development, especially in light of the eventual departure of Robert Lewandowski. Kroupi is not a traditional, out-and-out striker; rather, he is distinguished by his ability to move freely across various attacking positions.
Meanwhile, Tiago Pinto, an executive at Bournemouth, addressed reports regarding interest from top clubs, emphasizing that the English side intends to keep him, regardless of how substantial any financial offers might be.
"We wouldn't sell Kroupi, even if Barcelona or Liverpool offered 100 million euros," Pinto stated. "That is completely out of the question."
Kroupi has been sidelined since last July after suffering a metatarsal fracture, but he has now begun the process of returning to action with the team.
Bournemouth manager Marco Rose confirmed that the player has returned to full team training, hinting at the possibility of him featuring against Manchester United this Sunday at Old Trafford. Deciding on an International Future
According to sources from Statsroom, Krobi has put an end to the debate regarding which national team he will represent. He has reaffirmed his commitment to wearing the French jersey, despite having Ivorian roots on his father’s side and Portuguese roots on his mother’s side—a background that would have allowed him to choose any of the three nations.
The young forward has previously represented France at various youth levels. Furthermore, Roberto Martínez, the former Portugal manager, revealed last May that the Portuguese Football Federation had been in contact with the player.
However, Krobi has made it clear that his decision is final. In comments to DAZN France, he stated: "I have always played for France’s youth teams; I was born in France and started playing there as well. I don’t see myself moving into a culture I’m not familiar with. The French national team is my goal."
