Barcelona Prodigy Lamine Yamal Chooses Spain Despite Morocco’s Recruitment Efforts

As a guest on the Spanish show El Chiringuito de Jugones, Regragui spoke candidly about the Lamine Yamal case. The Moroccan coach revealed the approach adopted to try to convince the 17-year-old player, who has a Moroccan father and an Equatoguinean mother. Responding to questions from journalist Josep Pedrerol, Regragui explained that he had spoken directly with the Barcelona wonderkid.

"I had several phone conversations with him. I presented him with Morocco’s projects: the 2025 AFCON at home, the 2030 World Cup... He was completely honest with me. Two days later, he called me back to tell me that he felt Spanish, that he had always played for Spain. I wished him good luck, because he was exemplary in his sincerity," he confided in fluent Spanish.

"Lamine Yamal is a generational talent that we tried to bring to the Moroccan national team, but it wasn’t possible. What he’s doing at his age is incredible," acknowledged the Atlas Lions’ coach.