Barcelona Prodigy Lamine Yamal Chooses Spain Over Morocco, Grandmother Explains

"He was born here, he studied here, this boy is not Moroccan, do you understand me?" affirmed Yamal’s grandmother in a recent television interview. Lamine Yamal Nasraoui Ebana was born on July 13, 2007 in Esplugues de Llobregat, in the suburbs of Barcelona, to a Moroccan father, Mounir Nasraoui, and an Equatorial Guinean mother, Sheila Ebana. Courted by Spain and Morocco, he ultimately chose to defend the colors of the Spanish flag. Some accuse his father of being behind this choice. "My son (Mounir Nasraoui) did not force him to do anything," assured Lamine’s grandmother.

These remarks come a few weeks after Mounir Nasraoui was the target of threats. Last August, the father of the Barça star was transferred to the Can Ruti hospital in Badalona after receiving two stab wounds to the abdomen on Frank Marshall Street, in the Rocafonda neighborhood of Mataró. This attack would be related to his son’s choice to play for the Spanish national team instead of the Atlas Lions. "It was his own compatriots who said it was a betrayal of Morocco because the boy didn’t want to play with them," explained another resident. Lamine’s grandmother is suffering from this situation: "Now, with what’s happening to Mounir, I can’t even eat. I have a knot in my stomach because of the shock and fear."

Lamine has broken all records: he is the youngest player in Euro history, youngest passer, youngest scorer, youngest winner, etc. At 17 years and one day, he became the youngest player to participate in a World Cup or Euro final. A record previously held by King Pelé since 1958. He was 17 years and 249 days old when he played the World Cup final that year with Brazil. Two days after lifting the Euro by defeating England in the final (2-1), the young talent received the title of the most beautiful goal of the tournament. A goal scored during the semi-final between Spain and France that will end the adventure of the Blues.