Milan midfielder Yacine Adli has failed to receive his maiden senior call-up for France despite choosing Les Bleus over Algeria. The 23-year-old has established himself as a permanent first-team fixture at San Siro this term after taking nearly three years to settle in Serie A.
Adli swapped Bordeaux for Milan in 2021, but the Italians left him on a season-long loan in Ligue 1 to aid his development. Since completing his switch to Italy, the young gun has struggled to secure regular first-team football. However, 2023/24 has been his breakout season.
Milan boss Stefano Pioli has given the deep-lying playmaker the benefit of the doubt amid an injury crisis. And the youngster has taken full advantage of the opportunity to raise his stake. Adli’s rise to stardom has not gone unnoticed.
Impressed by the midfielder’s showings, Algeria had been hellbent on getting Adli to represent them on the international level. However, the player has rejected the African state’s approach to pledge his allegiance to France. But unlike his senior colleagues, Mike Maignan and Theo Hernandez, he has yet to convince Deschamps to include him in his star-studded squad.
After featuring for Les Bleus in the under-age brackets, Adli has chosen the 2022 World Cup runners-up over Algeria. During an extensive interview with Gazzetta dello Sport, he explained his decision.
“As a player, I want to play at the top level, so of course, playing for France is my primary objective. I’ll explain my decision after, but it’s not the time,” the Milan ace said. “I’m a supporter of Algeria, but as a player, I chose France. I chose France for the high level.”
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