Tiemoue Bakayoko: Former Chelsea Midfielder Considering International Switch to Play for Ivory Coast

• Tiemoue Bakayoko is considering a nationality switch
• The France midfielder is eligible to play for Ivory Coast
• Bakayoko has not played for France since March 2017

Former Chelsea midfielder, Tiemoue Bakayoko, could switch allegiance from France to play for African champions, Ivory Coast.

The FC Lorient midfielder, who previously rejected a call-up from the African nation, is seemingly open for an invite despite representing France in the past.

Bakayoko has one cap for the former world champions but remains eligible to represent the country of his parents, Ivory Coast.

The 29-year-old made his France debut in an international friendly against Luxembourg in March 2017, replacing Adrien Rabiot in the second half of the 2-0 defeat.

He has since not played for the French national team since, leaving him with a decision to make over his international career.

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"You wait for the call, you work hard and you accept it. When I was called up, I was close to being called up for Ivory Coast, but Les Bleus was the ultimate dream," Bakayoko told L'Equipe.

He also spoke about the challenges a person faces when they are of dual nationality.

"...You don’t realise how difficult it is to choose. Between the moment that Didier Deschamps called me and the moment I said yes, I didn’t eat for two days, my stomach was in knots.

"In a certain way, if I were to play for the Ivory Coast now, I’d feel like I’m disowning myself. However, I have evolved somewhat, I’m not saying no and not saying yes either."

Bakayoko was one of the best midfielders in the world when both Ivory Coast and the French national team came calling a few years back.

However, his career nosedived after a move to the Premier League to join Chelsea in 2017, as he struggled to replicate his exploits with AS Monaco.

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The lanky midfielder returned to France in 2023 to join FC Lorient, as reported by The Athletic.

Bakayoko shares horrific experience with police

Earlier, Sports Brief reported that former AC Milan midfielder, Bakayoko shared his horror experience with Italian police during his time in Serie A.

The French international was reportedly held at gunpoint because the on-loan Chelsea midfielder matched the description of a wanted suspect.

Bakayoko, speaking on the horror incident of July 18, 2023, believes the police went overboard with their search but said he has since forgiven them.