Warren Bondo, the highly-rated young midfielder, has poured cold water on speculation about joining the DR Congo national team, making it clear that his ambitions lie with France.
Interest from DR Congo
Last December, DR Congo’s head coach Sébastien Desabre traveled to Italy to meet Bondo, then one of Monza’s standout performers before his transfer to AC Milan in the closing days of the winter window.
Desabre attended Monza’s 2-1 defeat to Parma on December 28 and later posed for a photo with the 21-year-old midfielder, his father, and his agent.
The meeting sparked widespread speculation that Bondo was considering a future with the Leopards, particularly as his recent visit to his father’s homeland had already generated excitement among Congolese fans.
Firm commitment to France
However, in a recent interview with Foot Mercato, Bondo clarified his international aspirations.
The former Nancy and Reggina player, who has been a fixture in France’s youth teams since the U16 level—amassing 29 caps across different age groups—expressed his desire to break into the French U21 squad.
It would already be a great step to join the Espoirs, establish myself, and see where that takes me.
Being at Milan gives me more visibility, but I also need to play.
The French U21 team is definitely in the back of my mind,” Bondo stated.
What’s next for DR Congo?
Bondo’s comments deal a blow to DR Congo’s hopes of securing a player who could have bolstered their midfield options ahead of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
Despite this setback, the Congolese Football Federation may not give up entirely on the Milan prospect, as dual-nationality players often reconsider their choices later in their careers.
🐆 Bondo vise l’équipe de France U21 🇫🇷
Aperçu en Italie il y a quelques mois en compagnie du sélectionneur Sébastien Desabre, Warren Bondo n’a pas officiellement opté pour la RD Congo 🇨🇩.
C’est d’ailleurs la raison de son absence sur la dernière liste des Léopards.
Au… pic.twitter.com/WdF7q7Juzd
— LEOPARDSFOOT (@leopardsfoot) March 9, 2025
For now, though, Bondo remains focused on his development at AC Milan and his aspirations with the French national setup.
Whether the Leopards will continue their pursuit or move on to other targets remains to be seen.
