“Default choice” or “choice of the heart”? During the nine-minute interview that Houssem Aouar gave to the Algerian Football Federation on YouTube, he knows very well that this question is in everyone’s mind this Thursday. Two and a half years after signing an appearance with the France team against Ukraine (7-1), the Lyon midfielder has just formalized this Thursday his choice to wear the jersey of the Algerian selection.
A reversal allowed by Fifa since his only appearance in the blue jersey took place during a friendly match, and he has never entered Didier Deschamps’ plans since October 7, 2020. Houssem Aouar explains that during his holidays spent last summer in Algeria, as every year, he was called by the president of the Algerian federation Djahid Zefizef, who told him of his desire, as well as that of Djamel Belmadi, to see him join the Fennecs.
“I had not made the choice that suited me”
“It had been in my head for a very long time, but I couldn’t see myself doing the process myself because I was afraid of coming across as someone opportunistic. There, the coach and the president reached out to me. I saw that I had a second chance so I jumped on it. “In great difficulty this season with OL (only 11 games played and 1 goal scored) and at the end of the contract in June, the former hero of the Lyon Final 8 will therefore regain international player status on Friday, when Djamel Belmadi will formalize its list. Surprisingly in this interview with Houssem Aouar, he did not hesitate to confide in his initial choice of the Blues.
This Algerian selection means a lot to me and my family. To be honest, after choosing to join the France team, I felt regret. I personally felt that I had not made the choice that was right for me. »
A problem of binational player who knows that he does not arrive “at all on conquered ground” in the Algerian selection. “It’s up to me to show that I have my place in this strong and united group, to integrate myself as quickly as possible,” he continues. I am aware that there are many expectations, and that of course, some will believe that it is a choice by default, or opportunistic. But if it was a default choice, I wouldn’t have done it now because I’m only 24, with more than 10 years of career ahead of me. No, it’s simply a choice of the heart. “A choice that will not fail to be strongly commented, in France as in Algeria.