Eli Junior Kroupi has said representing France is his international ambition, despite his family links to Cote d’Ivoire.
The 20-year-old Bournemouth forward has been valued at 116m euros by his club and is regarded as one of the most promising attacking players of his generation. Speaking to DAZN, Kroupi gave a clear indication that he intends to pursue a future with Les Bleus rather than the Ivory Coast.
Kroupi scored 13 goals in 35 Premier League appearances for Bournemouth last season. He has been injured since the start of the current campaign but is now nearing a return to competitive football.
“I have always played for France at youth level. I was born in France and started playing football in France. I cannot see myself going to a culture I do not know! The France team is the objective,” he told DAZN.
Asked whether he expected to receive a senior France call-up, Kroupi replied jokingly: “I have absolutely no idea!”
His comments may surprise some people in Cote d’Ivoire, but his preference is consistent with his background. Born and developed in France, Kroupi has represented the country throughout his international career in the youth categories.
His progress has also put him alongside Yan Diomande and Ayyoub Bouaddi in the race for the 2026 Golden Boy award.
Family connection to Cote d’Ivoire
Kroupi’s father, Eli Kroupi, was born in Sassandra, in Cote d’Ivoire’s Gbokle region. He moved to France at a young age and spent his entire professional career there as a forward for Lorient.
The elder Kroupi did represent the Elephants, making two appearances for Cote d’Ivoire between 2001 and 2005. His son, however, has followed a different international path since making his way through the French system.
Cote d’Ivoire would have welcomed the chance to add a player of Kroupi’s attacking ability to its squad. The forward’s stated aim is now to persuade Zinedine Zidane to give him an opportunity with Les Bleus.
Although Kroupi has made his sporting and personal preference explicit, his international future is not yet permanently settled. Under the eligibility rules, he would not be definitively tied to France unless he played an official competitive match for the senior team.
For now, though, his message is unambiguous: France remains the destination he wants to pursue.