Former Stade Rennais striker Kader Meïté (18) has chosen to represent Ivory Coast after being selected for the French national team in youth categories. He has just been called up to the Ivorian U21 team.
The French Football Federation (FFF) loses a player with great potential. Kader Meïté (18), who was part of the French youth team where he was even promoted to the U21 in late 2025, has opted to play for Ivory Coast. The former Rennes player, transferred to the Saudi club Al-Hilal during the last winter transfer window for 30 million euros, has been selected by the Ivorian U21s for two friendly matches against Morocco on March 26 and 30.
He could have been called up to the Ivory Coast’s senior team, led by Emerse Faé, but the information about his change of sporting nationality arrived too late at the Federation, according to L’Équipe. Born in Créteil, Kader Meïté joined the Stade Rennais training center in 2022 before making his professional debut at 17 years old under interim coach Sébastien Tambouret against Toulouse (0-2) on November 10, 2024. Scoring two goals in 13 appearances last season, he became a regular for Rennes in 2025-2026 under Habib Beye’s management.
He played 19 games (three goals, two assists) before his departure during the winter transfer window to Saudi Arabia. However, the young striker has struggled to secure a place in a competitive squad with players like Karim Benzema or former Bordeaux player Malcom. Since joining, coach Simone Inzaghi has only fielded him four times, including one start in the Asian Champions League.
During his departure, Habib Beye, who was in charge at the time, explained that the club could not prevent him from choosing to leave for “the contract of his life.” “It’s not me opening the door for Kader Meïté’s departure, it’s the market, it’s also the player’s will,” he said. “When you have a player who doesn’t want to stay at the club and wants to leave, you have to take all of that into consideration. I think at some point, the market also determines the reality of what we live, and the market value on a player like this is very significant. When a player doesn’t want to stay, at some point you make the decision to sell, simply. I don’t have to understand, it’s their choice. Financial elements are extraordinary both in terms of the transfer fee paid and what the player will receive. We are not here to judge their choice.”
Fact Check: – Kader Meïté, 18, has switched his national team allegiance from France to Ivory Coast. – He was recently called up to represent the Ivorian U21 team for friendly matches. – Despite struggling to establish himself in the competitive Al-Hilal squad, he has received limited playing time under coach Simone Inzaghi. – His former coach, Habib Beye, supported his decision to leave for a lucrative opportunity in Saudi Arabia.
