Ntcham turns down Cameroon approach

Celtic's Olivier Ntcham celebrates after scoring

Wednesday Nov 20, 2019. 14:00

France junior international Olivier Ntcham has confirmed he turned down an approach to represent Cameroon at senior level.

The 23-year-old had been included in a provisional squad named by new Cameroon coach Toni Conceição, but says he wants to concentrate on his club football, before admitting he would prefer to take a chance on representing France.

“I’ve always been thinking about my decision,” Ntcham told the Celtic View. “The Cameroon manager approached me last year about it We talked and I told him my targets.

“We spoke again recently when I was preparing for the Europa League games but I told him international football was not my priority right now because I had to make sure I got back in the Celtic team first.

“Once I do that, then I can think about football. My parents are both from Cameroon but I’ve never been there myself. I think my parents would be happier if I played with France.”

Ntcham was at Manchester City between 2012 and 2017, and also had a spell on loan at Italian side Genoa. He signed for Celtic two years ago and has largely been a regular since.

He scored a late winner for Celtic when they defeated Lazio in Rome in the UEFA Europa League earlier this month.