Noumory Keita and the National team mystery: Ganev explains why Bulgaria’s plan fell through

‼️If you wish to publish an Italian translation of this article, any of our other articles, or ANY PART OF THEM, please cite the original source. PLAGIARISM IS ILLEGAL ⛔️

Noumory Keita’s international future has become one of the most intriguing stories surrounding European volleyball. The 25-year-old star of Rana Verona, born in Mali and widely regarded as one of the most explosive attackers in the game, could potentially represent Italy in the future.
However, a revelation from Bulgaria has shed new light on an earlier attempt to bring him into another national team, dating back to 2020.

On 27 October, Bulgarian Volleyball Federation president Ljubo Ganev explained why the plan to make Keita eligible for Bulgaria never came to fruition.
According to him, the process of obtaining Bulgarian citizenship had indeed been initiated six years ago, and the player himself wanted to represent the Bulgarian national team. The obstacle, he explained, was the requirement for Keita to live and play in Bulgaria for at least three consecutive years. Such a commitment became unrealistic when more lucrative opportunities emerged abroad.

“It’s true that a procedure to grant Noumory Keita Bulgarian citizenship began in 2020,” Ganev said. “The volleyball player, who was born in Mali, wanted to play for the Bulgarian national team, but in practice there was no way for that to happen. To represent Bulgaria, Keita would have had to live and play in the country for at least three consecutive years. However, this was not possible because he was being offered huge sums to play for clubs in South Korea and Italy. No club in Bulgaria could afford Noumory Keita’s enormous salary, which is why the idea could not be realised.”

Ganev’s comments followed a recent report, which revealed that the Bulgarian initiative had progressed beyond informal discussions.
According to the publication, there is a notarised declaration signed by Keita in 2020, in which the Malian player gave his consent for a procedure to acquire Bulgarian citizenship to be initiated on his behalf. The document reportedly refers to Article 16 of Bulgaria’s Citizenship Act.
The first steps reportedly took place in late February and early March 2020, when Keita was playing for Serbian club Niš. The document was notarised on 5 March, according to the report. What happened afterwards remains unclear: neither the precise stage reached by the application nor the reasons why the process was abandoned have been conclusively established.
The timing coincided with the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and the restrictions that followed, but there was no confirmation that the pandemic was responsible for stopping the procedure. Ganev’s explanation adds another element to the story, pointing to the practical and financial difficulty of keeping a player of Keita’s calibre in Bulgaria for the required period.

The Bulgarian chapter is particularly striking because the discussion surrounding Keita has since shifted towards Italy, where he has established himself as one of the most prominent players in the SuperLega.
The Italian Volleyball Federation has expressed interest in the possibility of making him available for the national team. Federation president Giuseppe Manfredi has previously spoken about the ongoing naturalisation process, with the 2027 World Championship emerging as a potential target. However, Keita’s Italian citizenship should not be treated as already secured, nor should his participation with the Azzurri be considered guaranteed.

Ironically, Italy is not the only country to have appeared in the conversation. In an interview published in January 2026, Keita acknowledged that he had received approaches from several national federations. When asked specifically about France, he confirmed that there was interest, while declining to disclose details or announce a decision. Turkey has also been mentioned in media reports, although no confirmed agreement with the Turkish federation has been made public. For now, these reports illustrate the interest surrounding one of the sport’s most sought-after attacking talents, rather than a completed change of sporting nationality.
Keita himself addressed the speculation in December 2025, when he rejected reports suggesting that he had played official matches for Mali’s national teams. He stated that he had never participated in official matches for the senior national team and disputed claims about appearances for a Malian underage selection. He acknowledged having had contact with the senior team for unofficial competitions and confirmed that he was looking for a national team to represent. This distinction matters because eligibility is determined not only by citizenship but also by the rules governing a player’s sporting nationality and previous international participation.

Under FIVB regulations, obtaining a passport and becoming eligible to represent a national team are separate steps. The player’s previous registration and international history, the relevant federation’s status and the approval of the governing body can all be decisive. Consequently, even if Keita completes the process of acquiring Italian citizenship, his availability for Italy will still depend on the applicable eligibility requirements and the outcome of the necessary checks.
For Bulgaria, the revelation is a reminder of an opportunity that once appeared possible but ultimately went nowhere. For Italy and the other federations reportedly interested, the challenge is now to turn interest into a legally viable sporting future. And for Keita, the question remains the same: which national team, if any, will he eventually represent? His club career continues to flourish, but the international chapter of his story is still waiting for its definitive answer.