Samir Nasri admits he may not have chosen France today

Former French midfielder Samir Nasri says he does not regret representing France during his international career, although he admits the decision between Les Bleus and Algeria would have been more difficult if he were making it today.

The former Marseille and Manchester City midfielder earned 41 caps for France, but his time with the national team was often marked by controversy and frustration.

Reflecting on his international career, Nasri acknowledged that his experiences with Les Bleus left mixed emotions, even if he does not regret declining the opportunity to represent Algeria.

Nasri explained that the image and organisation of the Algerian national team during the mid-2000s played a significant role in his choice at the time. According to the former midfielder, the perception surrounding the Fennecs was very different from what it has become in recent years.

He recalled a conversation with former Marseille teammate Brahim Hamdani, whom he once asked about his absence from the Algerian national team setup.

“No, the national team is a mess over there.”

“That was in 2004. It’s not like after Vahid (Halilhodzic)’s time in charge, where you can still ask yourself that question,” he added.

Nasri suggested that the development of Algerian football in the years that followed has changed how dual-nationality players view the national team.

While he remains firm that he does not regret his original decision, he also admitted that today’s circumstances would likely have forced him to think much more carefully about his international future.

The former France international believes modern players with Algerian roots now face a different reality when deciding between the two countries.

“Tomorrow I am Akliouche or Cherki, I can ask myself the question and say to myself: France – Algeria,” he declared.

Nasri also spoke about what he sees as changing attitudes within the French national team setup toward players with African backgrounds.

Drawing from both his own experience and that of former France striker Karim Benzema, the 2022 Ballon d’Or winner, he argued that recognition for such players has improved over time.

Despite the difficult memories attached to his international career, Nasri’s comments reflected how much the football landscape has evolved since he first broke into the French national team more than two decades ago.