Sinama-Pongolle seeks call-up

In-form Atletico striker looking for Les Bleus bow

By Patrick Haond   Last updated: 30th September 2008

Sinama-Pongolle seeks call-up

Sinama-Pongolle: Eager for international honours

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Florent Sinama-Pongolle insists he has no regrets over his move to Liverpool and is now eyeing a France call-up.

The 23-year-old striker is hoping to earn international recognition after scoring four goals in four La Liga starts for Atletico Madrid since his £8million move from Recreativo Huelva this summer.

Sinama-Pongolle left France for Liverpool at just 17 in 2003 but did not develop as the Reds anticipated and he never established himself as a first-team regular at Anfield.

The former Le Havre trainee opted for a fresh start in Spain in 2006 and it paid off as he scored 22 goals in 68 appearances for Recreativo.

And after managing to kick-start his career, the former Under-21 international is aiming to earn a call-up for the senior squad.

"I don't believe I have deserved a call-up for Les Bleus as much as I do now," he told France Football.

Consistency

"I am in great form, I have been consistent for two seasons and I am currently La Liga's second top goalscorer behind David Villa.

"People talk about me every day in Spain, but I'm still not that popular in France.

"It seems only now that fans are discovering me and the fact I can score goals, but this is nothing new.

"That anonymity is difficult sometimes. I get the impression people still think about me as that 17-year-old kid educated at Le Havre, who made a mistake by joining Liverpool.

"But that was seven years ago and it wasn't a mistake.

"I am now proving that I have the ability to make a name for myself at a big club.

"When I left Liverpool to sign for Huelva I took a risk. Nobody came to me, looked me in the eye and said they believed in me."

Rather than hindering his career, Sinama-Pongolle believes his spell with Liverpool has steeled him for the challenge ahead with Atletico.

Competition

Despite making a positive start at the Vicente Calderon, he faces stiff competition for places from Sergio Aguero and Diego Forlan.

"I've been in the world of football for 16 years and this is not the first time that I've been in this situation," he told Atletico's official website.

"When I arrived at Liverpool, Michael Owen was the biggest player at the club and Milan Baros was there too.

"I arrived there and had to fight for a spot but that's something that doesn't scare me, as we footballers are very privileged.

"Everything that I experienced back then made me grow both as a footballer and as a person."