Eli Junior Kroupi announces his choice to represent France

Eli Junior Kroupi has announced that he wants to represent France rather than Ivory Coast. The Bournemouth forward is nearing a return from injury and could be in contention for Sunday’s Premier League meeting with Manchester United. Manager Marco Rose confirmed that Kroupi was in the running to feature, with the plan to give him some minutes if possible.

Kroupi has returned to first-team training after foot surgery. The 20-year-old is back in first-team training after surgery for a foot injury suffered at Bournemouth’s pre-season camp in Austria in late July. His return would be a welcome boost for the club, but Rose stressed that his recovery must be handled carefully. “We have to look after him, and he needs to take care with his next steps,” the manager said, also describing the forward as a special player with a good attitude.

Kroupi’s international preference is clear. He is eligible to play for Ivory Coast through his father, who represented the country twice. He can also qualify for Portugal through the nationality of his mother and grandmother. But in an interview with DAZN, the forward said his goal was to play for France: “I have always played for the French youth teams. I was born in France, I started playing football there. I can’t see myself joining a culture I don’t know! The France team is the objective.”

Asked whether he had already received a call-up, Kroupi said, “I don’t know at all,” before laughing. Portugal manager Roberto Martinez had said that his side approached Kroupi ahead of the March camp. He also made clear that the player’s wishes mattered: Kroupi wanted to play for France, and Portugal respected that decision.

The injury interrupted Kroupi’s momentum after a notable first Premier League season, in which he scored 13 goals and became an important attacking option for Bournemouth. His return to training now brings a possible comeback into view, but any involvement on Sunday will depend on his condition and the careful management of his recovery.