Rabah Madjer Urges Respect for Nabil Fekir’s Decision to Play for France
The controversy surrounding Nabil Fekir’s choice to represent France over Algeria continues to stir debate among football fans and officials in Algeria. However, one of Algeria’s most iconic football figures, Rabah Madjer, has called for calm and understanding regarding the Lyon striker’s decision.
“I have no particular comment to make. This Fekir affair has taken on a disproportionate dimension,” Madjer said. “Fekir is a very good player, he has many qualities. But he made his choice, he opted for France, and now it’s a matter of respecting that.”
Madjer pointed out that Fekir is far from the first player of Algerian descent to choose the French national team, citing names like Zinedine Zidane, Karim Benzema, and Samir Nasri. He stressed that while such decisions can be emotional for Algerian fans, they are also a reflection of a player’s upbringing and career trajectory.
“We must not lose sight of the fact that he is a player born in France, trained in France, and who began his career in France. From that point on, it seems perfectly normal to me that he opted for the French team.”
While acknowledging rumors that Fekir may have initially given some level of agreement to Algerian officials, Madjer emphasized the importance of professionalism and understanding the player’s right to choose what’s best for his future:
“He is a professional player, who has a career ahead of him and who intends to succeed. He has made his choice, and there is no problem. We tend to forget all that, it’s not good.”
Madjer’s balanced stance contrasts with the emotional reactions of some Algerian fans and media figures, offering a reminder that dual-nationality players often face complex, personal decisions when choosing their international allegiance.
