Morocco Lures Top Dual-Nationality Players Away from Spanish National Team

After seven years of waiting for a call-up to the Spanish national team, Brahim Diaz has finally accepted the proposal of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation to join the Atlas Lions. The Spanish Federation has just lost another up-and-coming talent in La Liga, in favor of Morocco. Before Diaz, several dual-national players of Moroccan origin have chosen to wear the Moroccan jersey, turning their backs on Spain, recalls Marca.

Among them is Achraf Hakimi. Born in Madrid, the Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) right-back made his debut in the Real Madrid youth academy before being called up to the club’s first team. Despite this start of his career in Spain, the young player decided to join the Atlas Lions. "There were contacts, I went to see the Spanish national team to try out with De la Fuente. I spent a few days in Las Rozas and I saw that it was not the right place for me, I did not feel at home... It was not what I had learned and lived at home, that is to say the Arab culture, the fact of being Moroccan," he explained.

Like him, Abdessamad Ezzalzouli also decided to play for Morocco. Born in Morocco, but having joined Spain with his family from a very young age, Abde had chosen to play for La Roja, before going back on his decision two months later. The current Betis player has finally joined the Moroccan team. Similarly, Ilias Akhomach, born in Catalonia and playing at Villarreal, has chosen to defend the Moroccan colors in the U21 category, after playing for the Spanish youth teams.

As for Salim el Jebari, he also played in the Spanish youth categories before deciding to join the Lionceaux de l’Atlas (U19). "In the end, I will play for Morocco because of my love for this country and because it is one of the dreams of my parents," the young Atlético de Madrid player had told Mundo Deportivo. In addition to players of Moroccan origin, the Spanish federation has unsuccessfully tried to recruit other dual nationals such as Leo Messi, Luka Romero, Lucas and Theo Hernandez, Álvaro Rodríguez, etc.