Morocco Coach Sparks Controversy by Allowing PSG Star to Delay National Team Duty

The PSG defender will join the Moroccan team later for the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN). In the meantime, En-Nesyri, Abde, Chadi, Amallah and Abqar had to leave to join their national team, AS reports. This situation has created discontent within the two major clubs in Seville, Valencia and Alavés, due to unequal treatment compared to that of PSG and the CAN. During a press conference, Luis Enrique had revealed on Friday that Achraf Hakimi had permission from Morocco to play the Champions Trophy against Toulouse at the Parc des Princes. However, Walid Regragui did not grant the same favor to the La Liga clubs.

Seville and Valencia insisted until the last minute for Youssef En-Nesyri and Selim Amallah to be able to participate in the first day of the year. Valencia’s match was played on Tuesday against Villarreal, and Seville’s will be on Thursday against Athletic. Del Nido Carrasco, the new president of Seville, admitted that his club "fought like never before" for the Moroccan striker to join the Atlas Lions training camp on January 5.

However, En-Nesyri had to leave for Morocco on Monday, just like Amallah and other Moroccan footballers from La Liga, including Ez Abde and Chadi Riad, making Betis the club most affected by this inequality. Manuel Pellegrini could not count on the two players on Wednesday in Vigo, which will especially affect the defense. In central defense, the Chilean coach finds himself with the bare minimum: Pezzella and the Greek Sokratis, who has only played one match since his arrival, in the Cup against Villanovense. Alavés also could not count on one of its defensive pillars, Abdel Abqar, in the match against Real Sociedad.