Lamine Yamal made a mistake in choosing Spain over Morocco

It is a feeling of waste that persists in the Kingdom. Lamine Yamal, who shines in the colors of the Roja, remains the great regret of Moroccan football. Interviewed by Al Arabiya Sports, Mustapha Hadji expressed out loud what many think quietly: for him, the young prodigy made a sentimental mistake. The former assistant of the national team (63 caps) believes that there will always be an emotional glass ceiling in Spain for the player of Moroccan origin.

To support his point, Hadji does not hesitate to draw a parallel with another star of FC Barcelona: "It’s sad because, as I recently read in a Spanish newspaper, some say: ’We have Pedri, we love Pedri, we love Yamal, but we don’t love him as much as Pedri’". A cruel comparison to emphasize that, despite his talent, Yamal will never be the darling in the same way as the Canarian. "It’s a shame he didn’t choose Morocco, because if he had, it would have been different," laments the former number 7, adding fatalistically: "He was wrong. But he will always remain Moroccan, even if he plays for Spain."

For his part, the main interested party fully assumes his trajectory. Already a European champion with the Roja - a title that validates his choice sportingly - Lamine Yamal has always emphasized his desire to win major titles and his sense of belonging to Spain, the country where he was born and raised. If he retains an affection for Morocco, his ambition is now turned towards the World Cup, while the Atlas Lions will try, in a few days and without him, to lift the continental trophy at home.