Arsenal midfielder Matteo Guendouzi has revealed the chronology of how he found out that he had been called up to the France senior squad for the upcoming 2020 European Championship qualifiers.
The 20-year-old revealed that he was asleep when the telephone rang, a call that turned his dream into reality.
“I was taking a nap and someone knocked on my door. I didn’t answer because I was sleeping,” the midfielder told FFF TV. “Then my phone rang and it was the coach on the phone.
“He said, ‘It’s me, I knocked’ and so on. Obviously then I opened the door straight away and then he said, ‘Matteo, come here, we need to talk’. He said, ‘I like you very much but you have to leave’. And I said, ‘What do you mean I have to leave? What do you mean?’ He said, ‘Actually you’re going with the France senior team’.
“In my mind, it was like… at first I couldn’t believe it. Ten minutes before, I was asleep – I thought I was still in a dream. The coach and I, we had a good talk. He explained it well. That’s it, he told me I was in the senior side. It’s a dream, I’m just glad I showered for the sake of my awareness!
“It’s a big surprise for me. It’s been a dream since I was a kid. It’s something extraordinary. I think any French player would want to play for this national team, it’s something huge. What I’m going through is really something extraordinary. I’m the happiest person in the world.
“I’m joining the world champions and it’s just exceptional. I’m going to learn a lot with them, with the staff, and it’s going to be very rewarding for me.”
It has been a meteoritic rise for Guendouzi who has improved significantly for Arsenal since he joined them at the start of last season from French side FC Lorient, he has already represented France at U18, U19, U20 and U21 level.
He transfer fee was just £7 Million plus bonuses and he came to the Emirates with the tag of French wonderkid and to some extent, he is living up to that reputation, put it this way, he is worth a lot more than £7 Million now.
He is obviously not guaranteed a start for the French national team this time around but it must only be a matter of time before he his given an opportunity to shine on the international stage.
So pleased for him. Some of the fans base wanted him out, but you could see there was potential, which he’s now realizing, as he’s arguably been our best player so far this season. Certainly putting a far more experienced player like Xhaka to shame.
Can’t believe he was our second option after Yacine Adli
His performances in the Liverpool and the Tottenham matches were commendable
I just hope he wouldn’t get injured in this season. Arsenal have lost many talented youngsters due to injuries in the past, namely Wilshere, Ramsey and Diaby
when he is matured in two to three years time…will be sold off…Arsenal always sells..annoying
EVERY club sells their best talents, even Barcelona and Real.
arsenal always sells,all clubs don’t sell,barca is not selling messi,mancity will not sell aguero or Sterling… arsenal is a feeders team to big clubs fact!!
Torreira and Guendouzi were my favourite signings last year
Congratulations to Guendouzi
First and foremost I will say congratulations to Matteo Guandozi for his invitation to the French national team,at just 20yrs old,he is a talent,his performance against Spurs remind me of a certain 19yrs old Jack wilshere at nou camp against bacelona in 2011 when he bossed that barcerlona midfield that has iniesta and xavi Fernandez,basquett and Lionel Messi playing in the same game.with this kid I tell you what,our midfield is sorted out for next decade at least
when will lacazette get a call? Ahead of giroud. Hmmmmm some coaches are funny.
I think Lacazette can only compete with Griezmann, because the likes of Giroud and Mbappe are more specialized than Lacazette and Griezmann
Unless Lacazette can score more than 25 goals in EPL
It’s great to beable to watch young players gradually blossom into top top players.
Charlie George, Tony Adams, Aaron Ramsey and Liam Brady are four names that spring to mind immediately.
Matteo Guendouzi could become another player that fits into that illustrious group and was a wonderful signing for the new regime at just £7,000,000…must be worth at least £40,000,000 now.
But, just as Phil said in an earlier post, let’s not start building him up only to be sent tumbling down.
Let’s give him time to mature into the world class player he could become.
Well done also to Unai Emery for giving him the belief and playing time to mature so quickly.
I honestly believe after Guendouzi’s performance after Spurs, we’ve finally found our perfect starting 11 going forward(If Emery allows it)
—-Leno—-
Bellerin–Chambers–Holding–Tierney
—Torreira–Guendouzi—
—-Ceballos—-
Pepe—Laca—Auba
Subs
Martinez
Sokratis
Luiz
Willock
Ozil
Martinelli / Smith-Rowe
Maitland-Niles / Kolasinac
Cannon Spike, that’s about the exact same team I would put out, with the proviso that Ozil/Ceballos get sufficient playing time in every game.
Your subs bench, again, looks experienced and able to influence matches, but AMN and kolasinac my preference over Martinelli and Smith-Rowe.
The squad looks so balanced and attack minded, one wonders if Unai would be too hesitant to actually try it out?
Time will tell.
International football puzzles me.
95% of the games are qualifiers or friendlies.
Over 75% of the games are bizarre mismatches.
France’s group includes
Turkey Iceland Albania Moldova and Andorra 🙂
The equivalent of playing
Aston Villa Stoke Grimsby Barnett and the under 9’s.
What will we learn about Matteo in these non games?
England has already battered her only rival the Czech republic but must still play Kosovo Bulgaria and Montenegro 🙂
Like really?
The only international games of any real consequence
are the last 16 games in the world cup.
Everything else is plain silly.
I like Guendouzi he’s a trier and always wants the ball,never hides and has a good attitude,congratulations to him on his France 1st team call up.
Congratulations my boy Guendouzi. I believed in him from day one and I honestly believe he can become a 100m pounds midfielder in the next 2-3 years if he keeps working hard the way he is now and not be distracted. Keep it up boy.