Rabat – In an unexpected turn of events, 16-year-old football sensation Lamine Yamal has opted to represent Spain on the international stage, snubbing the Royal Moroccan Football Federation’s (FRMF) persistent efforts to have him wear the Atlas Lions’ jersey.
The decision was made official minutes ago by Spain’s national team coach, Luis De La Fuente, who included Yamal in the squad list, signaling the Moroccan-Spanish Barcelona wonderkid’s commitment to La Rojita.
At just 16 years of age, FC Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal has been making waves in the world of football with his remarkable skills and potential. Born to a Moroccan father, he was on the radar of the FRMF, which had been actively pursuing him to join Morocco’s national team. However, despite their best efforts, Yamal has chosen a different path.
Yamal’s decision to represent Spain comes as a surprise to many, given his Moroccan origin. The FRMF had hoped to capitalize on his talent to bolster the Atlas Lions’ ranks. Instead, Yamal has decided to don the colors of Spain, a country with a rich footballing history and a competitive youth setup.
On Thursday, head coach Walid Regragui spoke about Yamal’s case during a press conference, where he unveiled the official lineup for Morocco’s upcoming games against Liberia and Burkina and Faso.
Warning against exerting pressure on the wonderkid, Regragui said: “The essential thing is that the player, as well as his father, are Moroccans. No need to put pressure on the player and his decisions.”
“We will not get ahead of events. We will see tomorrow what his choice will be,” he added.
Read also: Regragui Says No Pressure Should Be Exerted on Lamine Yamal
