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Morocco’s national team legendary goalkeeper Yassine Bounou has offered a measured and respectful take on Barcelona’s teenage sensation Lamine Yamal, saying Moroccans still regard him as “one of us” despite his decision to represent Spain.
Speaking to Argentina’s TyC Sports, the Al Hilal goalkeeper said: “Everyone is free to choose where they want to play, as long as they don’t speak ill of us and throw stones at Morocco. I sincerely feel that Lamine Yamal is one of us even though he chose Spain.”
Bounou added: “I enjoy watching him. It’s been a long time since I’ve watched a game for a specific player. We wish him the best; he’s clearly a good guy.”
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He also praised Lionel Messi, saying: “It’s hard to see someone like Messi again. What he did was incredible: he was the player who surprised me the most. It was a privilege to play against him, to block when I could and to concede goals from him.”
Yamal’s decision and background
Born in 2007 in Mataró, near Barcelona, to a Moroccan father and an Equatorial Guinean mother, Yamal came through La Masia, Barcelona’s youth academy, and rose rapidly through Spain’s national youth teams. He made his senior debut for Spain in 2023 at just 16 and went on to become the youngest scorer in European Championship history during Euro 2024.
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In multiple interviews with Spanish outlets including La Razón and El País, Yamal stressed he had “always played with Spain” and that it was “always clear” he wanted to wear La Roja’s shirt.
Morocco’s football federation, led by Fouzi Lekjaa, had made several attempts to persuade Yamal to play for the Atlas Lions. Head coach Walid Regragui admitted they “tried to convince him”, but the player “was honest and said he felt Spanish.” Regragui added, “We respect his choice. He’s a great talent, and we wish him well.”
Mixed reactions in Morocco and Spain
In Morocco, Yamal’s decision stirred debate. Local media outlets such as Morocco World News and Le Matin described it as “a disappointment, but understandable.” Fans expressed frustration online, though several commentators urged calm, arguing that Morocco should “take pride” in producing players admired worldwide.
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Spanish coverage, led by Diario AS and Marca, portrayed Yamal’s case as part of a wider tug-of-war between Spain and Morocco over dual nationals. Spanish FA officials were quoted saying they “worked early” to keep him in Spain’s system. Former RFEF director Albert Luque told Cadena SER that Yamal’s family “faced pressure” from Morocco but “supported his choice from the start.”
Despite occasional online abuse from extremists on both sides, the majority of fans in Spain have embraced Yamal as one of their brightest prospects.
A symbol of globalised football
Yamal’s case reflects a broader trend in modern football, where dual-national players face competing loyalties. FIFA’s updated eligibility rules now make such situations more frequent.
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For Morocco, which successfully recruited European-born stars like Achraf Hakimi and Brahim Díaz, Yamal’s decision was a rare miss. But Bounou’s conciliatory signals maturity from Morocco’s dressing room.
“As long as there’s respect,” Bounou said, “there’s no problem.”
