EXCLUSIVE: Wilfried Zaha has NO plans to quit international football with Ivory Coast despite Elephants boss revealing Crystal Palace winger asked not to be called up for next international break
Wilfried Zaha has no plans to quit international football following surprise claims from his Ivory Coast manager.
Elephants boss Patrice Beaumelle said Zaha ‘wants to reflect on the rest of his international career’ after leaving the Crystal Palace star out of his latest squad.
But Beaumelle’s comments have caused surprise and he is understood to have misinterpreted what were thought to be private discussions about elements of the Ivory Coast setup.
Wilfried Zaha has no plans to quit international football and Ivory Coast, Sportsmail can reveal
Ivory Coast boss Patrice Beaumelle says Zaha rejected a call-up to this month’s fixtures
Beaumelle and winger Zaha, 28, have held talks and agreed he would be left out of the former’s plans for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Mozambique and Cameroon.
The decision was taken with Ivory Coast in pole position in their group to reach the play-offs heading into their final two games but also in light of the illness Zaha suffered last month.
Not for the first time, Zaha returned from international duty feeling under the weather following the last break.
Zaha returned from international duty earlier in October feeling under the weather
He missed Palace’s next game against Arsenal before appearing as a second-half sub against Newcastle.
Zaha made a scoring return to the starting line-up against Manchester City and having taken a while to shake off the effects of his illness from the last break it was decided it would be best for Zaha to remain at home for the upcoming one.
That call will be welcomed by Palace who were also keen to avoid the prospect of being without their talisman once again on his return from representing his country.
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