Agadir – Fouzi Lekjaa, President of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF), has addressed efforts Moroccan football authorities made to convince Barcelona star Lamine Yamal to join the Atlas Lions. These include direct discussions with then-national team coach Walid Regragui and continuous communication with the player before he ultimately chose Spain.
Speaking on a podcast hosted by journalist Mohamed Errammach, Lekjaa said Morocco actively engaged with Yamal throughout the recruitment process, highlighting the national team’s sporting project and maintaining regular contact with the young forward, who is eligible for Morocco through his father.
“Let me speak to you frankly and clearly. As for Lamine Yamal, we contacted him, and he is Moroccan through his father,” Lekjaa said.
The FRMF president explained that Moroccan officials remained in touch with Yamal until the final stages of his decision-making process and arranged a meeting between the player and Regragui shortly before he made his choice.
Lekjaa added that Yamal was also familiar with several Moroccan players, including Morocco international Abde Ezzalzouli, his former teammate at FC Barcelona’s youth academy.
“More than that, he had a Moroccan friend playing in Morocco, Abde Ezzalzouli, who was with him at Barcelona; they played in the same youth category and progressed through the same ranks together,” he said.
Despite Morocco’s efforts, Lekjaa stressed that the federation respects Yamal’s decision and maintains the same approach toward all dual-nationality players. “We respect their decision. We do not question it,” he stated.
Lekjaa added that Morocco continues to view Yamal as part of its broader national community and wishes him success. “More importantly, we always wish him well because we consider him Moroccan through his father,” he said.
The FRMF chief also dismissed claims that Morocco pressures players into choosing the national team, arguing that Yamal’s case demonstrates the federation’s respect for players’ personal choices.
“The point I have just mentioned shows and disproves everything that may be said about us enticing or pressuring this player or that player,” Lekjaa said.
“We spoke with Lamine Yamal about the football project, and coach Walid Regragui spoke with him at length. He ultimately made his choice based on his own convictions, and convictions are not something we interfere with,” he concluded.
Yamal, who was eligible to represent both Morocco and Spain through his dual heritage, chose to play for Spain in 2023 and has since established himself as one of the country’s most influential and talented young players.
