Morocco Lures Top Spanish-Moroccan Soccer Talents, Challenging Spain’s National Team

Morocco is looking for talent to bolster its national team and win titles. In this dynamic, the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) has already convinced several young players with dual Spanish and Moroccan nationality to wear the Moroccan jersey. The list keeps growing, from Achraf Hakimi (Paris Saint-Germain) to Ilias Akhomach (Villarreal), passing through Munir El Haddadi (UD Las Palmas), Abdessamad Ezzalzouli (Real Betis), etc.

Most of these dual-national players have played in the lower Spanish categories before deciding to join the Atlas Lions, recalls Estadio Deportivo. But some dual-nationals like Lamine Yamal (FC Barcelona) have chosen to continue their international career with Spain. Others like Brahim Díaz (Real Madrid), Youssef Enríquez, Adam Aznou, Salim El Jebari or Rachad Fettal are still hesitating between Morocco and Spain.

Morocco has set up a network of agents to uncover talent of Moroccan origin in European clubs. Rabie Takassa is the coordinator of this network of agents in Spain, the Netherlands, Italy, Germany... "We have a database with all the Moroccan-origin footballers playing in Europe. Every season, we add the new ones who emerge," he said in an interview with Relevo.