Ryan Cherki has firmly dismissed claims suggesting he’s using threats or switching allegiance to pressure his way into the French national team.
Reports had swirled that the Olympique Lyonnais talent was ready to consider playing for Algeria or Italy if left out of France’s June squad. However, sources close to Cherki insist those rumors are baseless.
“Nobody knows Ryan well enough to think that he could have pressurised anyone or used another national team,” L’Équipe quoted a close associate as saying.
“What has been reported in this regard is also an insult to the coach (Deschamps) whose position has been very clear,” the source added.
“Ryan has never once spoken to a coach or the president of another federation, even if he could claim that, he does not hold the nationality of any other country.”
The 20-year-old attacking midfielder recently earned a call-up to the senior French side for the UEFA Nations League semi-final against Spain on 5 June.
Should France win, they will face Portugal or Germany in the final on 8 June. The two losing teams will contest the third-place match that same day.
