Rangers winger Djeidi Gassama has received his first international call-up this week and is set to come up against Lionel Messi this week.
Gassama, 22, has been called up by Mauritania, the country of his birth.
The African nation will face Argentina and Palestine in back-to-back friendlies this month, with manager Aritz Lopez Garai using the fixtures to assess new options, including the Rangers winger.
Frustrating first year for Gassama
He has, however, contributed eight goals and four assists for Danny Rohl’s side across all competitions.
The issue is that only two of his goals have come in the Premiership, with the majority arriving in the early rounds of Champions League qualifying.
The former Sheffield Wednesday winger previously earned two caps for France at U20 level but has now switched his international allegiance to Mauritania.
With these fixtures being friendlies, he remains eligible to change again, provided he does not feature in a competitive match.
A new era for Mauritania
Lopez Garai has framed the current camp as the start of a new era, with players such as Gassama given the opportunity to stake their claim against elite opposition.
“This training camp marks the beginning of a new cycle with a clear objective: to qualify Mauritania for the next AFCON,” he said.
“We must build a strong team, with a clear identity and an irreproachable mentality.
“The match against Argentina is a historic moment for our country. Facing the world champions is an exceptional challenge, but also a great opportunity to show our progress.
“We will give everything to represent Mauritania with dignity and make our supporters proud.”
Previous rejection due to French connection
He said: “We’ve been in contact with his entourage for maybe eight or nine months now.
“For the moment, they’re reluctant to join the national team. You shouldn’t force people.”
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It remains unclear what ultimately changed Gassama’s stance.
However, for a player who attracted an eight-figure offer from Monaco in the January window, exposure on the international stage can only enhance his growing profile.
A strong showing against elite opposition could shift the narrative around his season, boosting his faltering confidence ahead of the title run-in and reinforce his market value ahead of a pivotal summer.
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