Algerian star Nabil Ben Taleb, midfielder for French team Lille, revealed that the England national team tried to recruit him before he chose to play for Algeria in 2014.

Ben Taleb disclosed in a press statement that there were English attempts to include him in the England national team while he was playing for Tottenham Hotspur.

The player stated: "My choice to play for Algeria was a decision I did not think twice about. When the Algerian Football Federation contacted me, I was at Tottenham, despite what my coach and club president Daniel Levy did when they asked me to hold off on my decision because England's coach Roy Hodgson was following me and wanted to recruit me for Euro 2016."

It is worth noting that Ben Taleb, who has recently returned to the pitch after a long absence due to health issues, has participated in 52 international matches with the Algerian national team so far.