Rabat – Mohammed Ihattaren, a promising Moroccan-Dutch football player, has decided to represent the Netherlands instead of Morocco.
The midfielder made his choice today, November 3.
Since the beginning of the year, Morocco’s Football Federation intensified its efforts to secure the football player.
Atlas Lions head coach Vahid Halilhodzic also attempted to convince Ihattaren to join the Moroccan national team due to his spectacular professional performances with his Dutch club PSV Eindhoven.
The newly appointed head coach also picked the attacking midfielder for his list of pre-selected players for the Atlas Lions’ friendly games in September
However, the 17-year old football player believes that it is better for him continue to represent the “Oranje.”
“I played for the Netherlands for the under 14s [team] and I won the European Championship with the Under-17 team with the Oranje. It’s good that I can continue.”
Manager of the Netherlands national team Ronald Koeman expressed satisfaction with winning the race over Ihattaren.
“Mo is a very young player with strong development potential.”
“Keeping that kind of talent in Dutch football is a good thing,” he added.
Koeman, in several interviews, said he will do everything in his power to convince the football player to represent the Netherlands.
“Ihattaran cannot play for Morocco in September,” he said when Moroccan coach called upon him to represent Morocco in a friendly game.
“In case Ihattaren chooses to play for Morocco, he will have to follow some procedures, including filling in a formal request declaring his intention to join Morocco,” the coach of the Netherlands said.
Ihattaren currently plays for Dutch PSV Eindhoven as an attacking midfielder.
