Bournemouth's forward, Eli Junior Kroupi, confirmed that he intends to represent the French team, rejecting the possibility of playing for Portugal or Côte d'Ivoire. The decision was revealed in an interview with DAZN.
© Getty Images
25/10/2026
by
After completing the first season in England, having been recruited to Lorient, where he graduated and reached the first team, Eli Junior Kroupi was quickly the target of much greed.
With a balance of 13 goals in 35 games in 2025/26, Bournemouth stood firm and held the player at the squad, after asking for more than 100 million euros to free him in the summer transfer window.
An injury contracted in July would also cause a possible exit to fall, and the 20-year-old player is still recovering, and he has not played any game in the service of Bournemouth this season.
Martínez had already revealed refusal
Despite being a confirmation in the first person, Kroupi's refusal to represent Portugal was already known, since Roberto Martínez had revealed in May that the Portuguese Football Federation had come into contact with the player and had received a negative response.
“There were contacts. Our Federation department was ahead of the news. Before the March stage we had an approach. It's one thing to be able to wear the shirt, another if the player wants to. In Junior's case, right now, I wanted to play for France. We respected and left closed”, explained the then national selector, after announcing the 26 players summoned who would represent Portugal in the World Cup.
It opens in March?
Eli Junior Kroupi will now be closer and closer to returning to the lawns. However, very difficult the advance of Bournemouth will be called by Zidane in the break for selections that will take place in November, as it will still have to regain the competitive pace.
Thus, the eventual debut by the French team could take place in March 2027, when the final quarter of the League of Nations will be contested.
Lucas da Cunha has already been ‘disdirected’ by France
Another name that was on Portugal's agenda for a near future was Lucas da Cunha, Como's average, but Zidane did not want to waste time and summoned the player in October, ensuring that France would win the race.
Son of a Portuguese father, Cunha made the debut for the selection of France on September 28, signing a competent exhibition in front of Belgium. The average of 25 years has dual nationality, but he has completed his journey in the Gaul youth selections and the current exhibitional level in Italy has led France not to waste any time catching him for the future.