Ekitiké dreams of France senior call-up: “I hope the day will come”

Hugo Ekitiké is dreaming of a call-up to the France senior team, but has yet to speak to Didier Deschamps.

With nine goals and four assists in 15 appearances for Eintracht Frankfurt this season, Hugo Ekitiké has shown why the Bundesliga side were willing to pay €20 million to sign him from Paris Saint-Germain.

The 22-year-old’s impressive form saw him earn his first call-up to France’s Under-21 side earlier this year. The next step is to play for the senior team but, as the striker tells Sport Bild, he hasn’t had any contact with France coach Didier Deschamps – at least not yet.

“No, not yet. I hope that day will come. There are still so many things to achieve. And that’s one of my dreams, to give it my all,” Ekitike revealed.

Although he has only been with Eintracht for less than a year, the Frenchman’s form has seen him linked with bigger clubs.

For now, though, he’s just enjoying playing more regularly than he did at PSG and isn’t thinking too far ahead.

“When I came here, it was a very special situation. I hadn’t played for a long time. I was just thinking about getting back to playing at a high level. My plan at the moment is to have a great season with this team. The feeling of winning is the best thing you can have. I’m not thinking about long-term things at the moment.

“Of course you have dreams as a child. But at the moment I’m just thinking about what’s happening here. And here at Eintracht they work really well with the players. Look at the progress I’ve made since I arrived. I feel very comfortable here.”

Although Ekitiké’s stay at PSG didn’t go according to plan, the 22-year-old has no regrets about leaving Stade Reims for the capital club in 2022.

“I don’t regret anything that happened. I’m a completely different person now, with the lessons I learned in Paris. I have a lot more confidence, I can handle pressure better, I’m more of a team player,” he said.