Santini urged not to forgive Anelka

Former Paris St Germain coach Luis Fernandez has urged France boss Jacques Santini not to recall Manchester City striker Nicolas Anelka.

Anelka turned his back on France in 2002 after refusing to join the squad as a replacement for the injured Sidney Govou ahead of a friendly against the former Yugoslavia.

The 24-year-old said at the time Santini would have to get down on his knees to lure him back but last week, with Euro 2004 looming, Anelka revealed he would again like to be considered for selection.

Santini names his squad for next week’s friendly with Belgium on Thursday but Fernandez, one of several coaches to fall out with Anelka at PSG, believes the striker has not gone far enough to earn a recall.

“I don’t think he used the right words to earn his place back with the squad,” Fernandez told L’Equipe.

“He does not want to make a public apology but I guess you can do everything when you want to play in Euro 2004.

“The words he had against Santini were very strong in my opinion and if a player had said such things to me I would certainly not take him back, even though I am not questioning his qualities as a player.”

Anelka, who has scored six goals in 28 matches for Les Bleus, has been touted as replacement for Djibril Cisse.

Auxerre forward Cisse must serve a five-match international ban, meaning he would only be available for the final in Portugal and thus leaving Santini little alternative but to omit him from the squad.