Algeria is negotiating with Ethan Mbappe: Will the Real Madrid star's brother choose the Greens?
Recent French press reports have revealed serious moves by the Algerian Football Federation to attract a new talent from the French league, namely Ethan Mbappe, the midfielder of Lille and younger brother of Real Madrid star and French national team captain Kylian Mbappe, to represent the "Greens" in upcoming international competitions.
Strategy to attract dual nationals
This move is part of a broader strategy adopted by the Algerian Football Federation (FAF) in recent years, aimed at taking advantage of the "Bahamas" rule approved by FIFA, which allows players to change their sporting nationality under specific conditions. Algeria has recently succeeded in recruiting prominent players who represented France at the youth level, such as Houssem Aouar and Amine Gouiri, reinforcing the ambitions of the "Desert Warriors" to continue this approach of bolstering the national team with young talent and rising stars playing in major European leagues.
Details of the negotiations and family ties
According to the French newspaper Le Parisien, Algerian officials have opened communication channels with Ethan Mbappé, leveraging his Algerian heritage through his mother, Fayza Lamari, a highly influential figure in her son's football career. The Algerian Football Federation is seeking to capitalize on this strong connection to persuade the player to join the ambitious Algerian national team project.
Luca Zidane's precedent and its impact
The press report indicated that these moves are not isolated, but come after previous successes mentioned by the source, as the report stated that the Algerian Federation succeeded last year in convincing Luca Zidane, the goalkeeper of Granada and son of the legend Zinedine Zidane, to represent Algeria instead of France, noting his presence on the national team’s roster for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, which the Federation considers an incentive for other talents to take the same path.
Between the French dream and the Algerian reality
Despite growing interest from Algeria, the report clarified that Ethan Mbappé still prioritizes representing the French national team, following in his older brother's footsteps. However, the player closely follows Algerian matches, leaving the door open for a possible future change of heart, especially given the intense competition for places in the French midfield.
The role of teammates in Lille
The Algerian side is also counting on "soft power" within Lille, where Ethan enjoys a strong friendship with his Algerian international teammates, Nabil Bentaleb and Aïssa Mandi. This duo is expected to play a significant role in bridging the gap between the two clubs and conveying a positive image of the atmosphere within the Algerian national team, which could influence the young player's decision in the near future.
