Reddit AMA: Nzonzi answers fan questions on winning World Cup, racism and his career

Following in the footsteps of Edin Dzeko - who hosted the club's first-ever AMA at the end of last year - Nzonzi spent time on the football sub-reddit (r/soccer), answering fan questions about his career to date.

The event was another success, with hundreds of questions coming in. Below we have collected some of the World Cup winner's answers...

Click here to read the full AMA on the forum.

Salut, Steven! Most footballers get called up to their national team early in their career when they are developing, but you were called up first in 2017 and won the World Cup a year later after making a name for yourself. What do you think was the turning point that made you a French international? And have you always wanted to be one, or were you just focused on club level?

"Well of course there is a lot of competition, especially in midfield, to get into the France team. But I think moving to Sevilla really helped - I started playing in Europa League finals, Champions League games, big La Liga games. Maybe I needed that, it definitely helped me improve quickly and get to the point where I could play for France! It was definitely always a big ambition of mine, so I was very happy."

Who is the most talented footballer you’ve played alongside?

"There's a lot, too many to pick out one. It's impossible just to say one. When I first arrived at Blackburn, there was Benni McCarthy - I knew him a bit before, as a player, he was coming towards the end of his career but he was so good technically. So maybe not the best player ever I've played with, but he made a big early impression."

What was the most difficult thing to learn in your position?

"Probably the tactics, the positioning. It takes time to learn everything - where you need to be, where everyone else - when to move the ball and what is behind you. It's not so different in Italy but every coach has their different way of wanting to play - so you have to learn that. But it is very tactical, which helps me improve."

Recently, fellow Frenchman and Senegalese NT member Kalidou Koulibaly has been the subject of a widely publicised racism controversy after being the target of racist chants and remarks during Serie A matches. The Italian football governing body's decision to uphold a suspension stemming from his reaction to one of these incidents was widely criticised. The majority of the footballing world is staunchly opposed to racism, but it seems many are divided on how to resolve this issue; some have called for those who racially abuse players, coaches or other fans to receive lifetime stadium bans and possible criminal charges while others have questioned the effectiveness of these zero-tolerance policies and have instead called for offenders to be re-educated and given a second chance.

1) Do you think Italian football has an issue with racism?
2) How do you think clubs and leagues should handle these incidents and the perpetrators?

"Obviously this is a difficult topic to deal with in a short time... but I do think there is an issue with it, because it has happened many times. They really should work on it. For sure they should not have punished Koulibaly - because in that situation you have to put yourself in the position of the player. No-one can know how you would react until it happens to them. It's very hurtful for any player, to be booed in that way.

"Walking off when it happens could be one to way approach it in future, definitely. Because I think the reaction to it has to be harsh, has to be firm - because otherwise nothing will change. Making a strong reaction like that will make them think twice about their actions."

Hello Steven, at Roma there are a lot of different languages. Olsen revealed that he and Under cant communicate in the field because they dont understand the same language. How does this work out on the pitch with Italian, Dutch, Bosnian, Swedish and French people on the field?

"In the end, almost all the players can speak some English - so there's always a way. The Spanish players are good with Italian too ... so we are able to work it out. But on the pitch, in a game, De Rossi or whoever can usually shout to us in English to make his point!"

Who was the best player you played against in the Premier League? How different is it actually playing in the Prem compared to Serie A?

"The leagues are very different - the Premier League is a bit more physical, and a bit more direct in the way we attack. But that is perhaps because of the weather, and the way the pitches are. The guys like Drogba, Rooney, Van Persie were all great when I started... and Yaya Toure too, he was just brilliant."

How was going from Amiens to Blackburn? It's seems quite a culture shock but what were your first impressions and lasting ones as well? Also thank you for giving up your time to do this!

"The biggest move of my career. The biggest difference I have ever experienced in my life. My dad came with me, and my sister lived with me for a while - but the difference between Ligue 2 and the Premier League, I will never forget that in my life. Everything about it: the cars I suddenly saw in the car park when I arrived there. The money around the game. Everything about it shocked me - and then the football too, suddenly playing against the big players I always watched. The first game I played was against Man City - Robinho, Tevez, Adebayor - it was crazy."

Who did you room with in Russia?

"No, we all had our own room. Two months with the same person... that might be a bit much..."

How nice is Kolarov in person?

"How nice? Is this a joke?! Kolarov is great, full of jokes, he's a very funny and nice guy. On the pitch he can be serious, but generally he's funny..."

Hi Steven, I've always been curious about this; What does an average (non-match) day look like for you?

"Well, generally, we have one training session every day. I usually arrive at the last minute - well, just before the last minute - and then train, then spend a long time afterwards doing everything I need to do - stretching, physio... making sure I'm prepared for games. Then at home I take a nap, and with the rest of the day it depends - I eat, I relax with family, or sometimes I go out in the city centre."

How has it been adapting to Rome? What do you like more in Rome (both city and/or club) compared to other clubs?

"It's certainly a beautiful city - it reminds me of Paris. The structure of the club is great. The fanbase is something amazing too. When the fans were there at the airport to welcome me - it's not something that had happened to me before - that was a great feeling and helped me settle."

Hi Steven - How challenging is playing professional football mentally? How do you deal with any kind of anxiety or fear? I am asking this because I feel viewers generally ignore this and focus more on technical and physical aspects of the game.

"I think maybe its the hardest thing - it's not physically, or technically, it's mentally. The expectation, the need to be at your best all the time - something that is almost impossible. Even if you win something big, if you are not doing well two months later they are criticising you. They forget quickly. It's like that in life too, of course. But because of that you have to be very, very strong mentally."

How were you feeling before the world cup final? Any Nervousness?

"Definitely a bit nervous. But the group made it less stressful. I didn't feel so nervous, very focused and concentrated. Before I came on, the warm-up, I was really nervous - but once you get on the pitch it's football, you forget everything else.

"But the players made everyone else feel confident, focused. Some of the speeches in the dressing room, man, they were really powerful. You would listen, the players and the subs, and everyone was like, 'I just want to play'. It fired you up. So because of that I wasn't so nervous."