voldemort

French tactician Gerard Houllier, who worked for six years in England as Liverpool's manager, has urged French youngsters Samir Nasri, Karim Benzema and Hatem Ben Arfa to resist the lure of the Barclays Premier League and continue their development in France.

All three starlets are on the radar of top English clubs (as well as that of other European heavyweights). Marseille midfielder Nasri, 20, has been coveted by the big guns for a couple of years now, while Lyon pair Benzema (20) and Ben Arfa (who is 21 this week) have hit the headlines this season.

With all three now regulars in the France national squad, their stock continues to rise and the interest of big-spending clubs from other leagues will inevitably intensify.

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has expressed his admiration for the Lyons pair, and Nasri has been linked in the media with a summer move to Real Madrid.

But Houllier, now France's national technical director, reckons all three youngsters will benefit more by continuing to ply their trade in their homeland - at least for the time being.

"For those three players, it would be an error to leave for abroad now," Houllier told The Times.

"Nasri, Ben Arfa and Benzema are being selected in the best French teams. They are therefore in the best conditions to develop their game, progress and make that step up. They must stay [in the domestic league] and get more confidence into their game, assert their qualities and achieve things."

Houllier added: "Leaving Ligue 1 shouldn't just be a question of money. You must be professional in your approach to leaving. Going abroad must be motivated by the desire to assert your potential, your play."

All three players should feature for Les Bleus at Euro 2008 this summer.

source:goal.com