Abqar taunts Lamine Yamal over choosing Spain: “You want to play for Morocco!”
Abdelkabir Abqar found a very particular way to taunt Lamine Yamal. During the match between FC Barcelona and Getafe, the Moroccan defender repeatedly told him he wanted to play for Morocco. The exchange was caught on camera and is making headlines in Spain.
“Lamine, Lamine, you want to play for Morocco. Lamine, you want to!” Abdelkabir Abqar wouldn’t leave Lamine Yamal alone on Saturday, October 10, during FC Barcelona’s 3-0 win over Getafe. The Moroccan international defender took advantage of a stoppage in play to tease Barcelona’s number 10 about choosing to represent Spain rather than the Atlas Lions. The scene, captured by cameras for Movistar Plus+’s El Día Después, was revealed on Monday.
On Bladi.net : Abdel Abqar: Morocco, Identity and the Bloodline Behind His National-Team Choice
It all began after a foul was called against Anthony Gordon, Barça’s English striker, following contact with Getafe goalkeeper David Soria. Lamine Yamal disputed referee Jesús Gil Manzano’s decision, believing his teammate could have carried on and taken a shot.
Abqar then approached the Barcelona player and slipped in his little taunt about Morocco. He repeated the line insistently, as shown in footage released by AS.
Lamine Yamal chooses to walk away
The young Spain international did not respond to the taunt. He pushed Abqar’s arm away, while the defender continued to follow him as Barcelona players protested, before eventually walking away.
The joke refers to a choice that continues to fuel debate between Morocco and Spain. Born to a Moroccan father and an Equatoguinean mother, Yamal had been courted by the Royal Moroccan Football Federation before choosing La Roja. He had explained to Walid Regragui that he felt Spanish, despite efforts to convince him.
On Bladi.net : Lekjaa’s Witty Challenge to Lamine Yamal at World Cup
The man behind the taunt knows the question of origins well. Last March, Abdelkabir Abqar himself said that “Morocco is in our blood”, speaking about the attachment of dual nationals to the Atlas Lions.
On the pitch, the attempt to unsettle Yamal had no effect on the result. Barcelona won 3-0, with goals from Anthony Gordon, Gabriel Jesus and Jules Koundé. The exchange between Abqar and Yamal became one of the most talked-about moments of the match in the Spanish sports press.
