Czechia general manager Pavel Nedvěd has personally reached out to Rangers striker Ryan Naderi to convince him to declare for the national team. The 23-year-old forward, born in Dresden, is eligible through his mother and holds the necessary citizenship. Naderi has previously turned down an approach from Bulgaria and now faces a persuasive pitch from the former Ballon d'Or winner. Their next Nations League fixture is at home to Croatia on 26 September, the first of three tough autumn tests.
Naderi transferred to Rangers from Hansa Rostock in January for a fee of around £4.3 million. He has since scored six goals in 21 competitive matches. His Czech heritage is important to him. "My story is that my mum is from the Czech Republic. My grandma lives there too, so I can speak Czech," the striker said. He admitted his language skills aren't as sharp as they used to be because he visited mainly on holidays during his school years.
To finalise a switch, Naderi will need to travel to Prague to obtain a Czech passport. Pavel Nedvěd, who won the Ballon d'Or in 2003, is now leading the recruitment drive as general manager. Manager Ivan Hašek has full access to the squad list and player stats. After the Croatia match, the Czech team faces England and Spain in the Nations League. The current fixtures schedule shows a demanding autumn that could decide promotion. The team's recent form (LDLWW) highlights a need for more consistent performances. The final decision now rests with the player himself, who could significantly enhance Czechia's attacking options.
First reported at Daily Record Football
