Rangers forward Ryan Naderi chooses Czech football team

The Czech national football team has a new forward: 23-year-old Rangers striker Ryan Naderi has decided to play for Czechia's national team, the Czech Football Association announced. The forward was born in Germany and has a Czech mother and a Bulgarian father.

The road to the Czech national team

“I'm really glad to have the chance to represent Czechia. I can't wait to join the team, meet my new teammates and the whole coaching staff. This is an important step and a personal decision for me, since thanks to my mother I have a very close bond with Czechia. I'll do everything I can so that together we achieve success,” Naderi told the football association's website.

The possibility of the forward joining the national team had already been actively discussed during his previous call-up, but not all the administrative formalities had been settled at the time. That issue is now resolved. National team general manager Pavel Nedvěd noted that Naderi handled all the necessary paperwork himself while in the United Kingdom.

“Ryan really wanted to represent Czechia specifically, and we appreciate his decision. He's a very interesting player who can broaden our attacking options, and we're glad to be working with him,” Nedvěd stressed.

Naderi had previously turned down an offer to play for Bulgaria's national team. In Germany too there was speculation that the local national team might want him in its ranks, but the tall forward gave his preference to Czechia.

The player will begin training with the Czech squad on Wednesday. He will be available to the team for its next two Nations League matches — against Spain and England.

The Rangers transfer and his stats

In February, Naderi moved to Scottish club Rangers from Germany's Hansa Rostock, who play in the country's third-tier division. The transfer cost Rangers six million euros — around 146 million crowns.

For the Scottish club the forward has so far played 22 matches across all competitions, scoring 7 goals and providing 6 assists. Most recently he decided the outcome of the derby against Celtic with the only goal of the match. In Conference League qualifying, Naderi also found the net against Czech side Jablonec, though the north Bohemian club knocked Rangers out of the competition on penalties.

Around Prague, based on reporting by sport.cz