Rising from Ashes: Ihattaren Chooses Morocco, Slams Dutch ’Fair-Weather’ Support

"After a difficult period, I was erased by most Dutch people, by 99% of people. When things were going well, they were knocking on the door of PSV to beg. But when things are not going well, then you are nothing anymore... When you succeed, you are Dutch. When you fail, you are Moroccan. When I’m checked, I’m a 20-year-old young man from Utrecht of Moroccan origin. When I score again, they ask me why I don’t choose the Dutch national team," said Ihattaren on the NOS Buitenspel football podcast.

Ihattaren confided that the Dutch federation promised to call him up to participate in the Euro this summer with Jong Oranje. But in the end, he was not called up. "The promises were not kept. It’s not correct. But I had already made my choice for Morocco before this Euro. This Euro, I would have liked to play it, but my choice would never again have been the Dutch national team."

The 23-year-old striker, who has just signed with Fortuna Sittard, had played in 2020 for the Dutch U18s, under the orders of Ronald Koeman. Affected by the death of his father in 2021, the former PSV player had disappeared from the radar before joining Juventus, Sampdoria, Ajax and Slavia Prague in succession, where he did not particularly shine. He acknowledges having made a lot of bad choices after the loss of his father. "I went out to party to forget, I wanted conviviality. I didn’t want to think about football. I got out of bed, but late. Very late."

Ihattaren confesses to having suffered terribly from this loss. "For me, it was very difficult. I had the support of my brothers." Former footballers like Gerald Vanenburg and Wesley Sneijder tried to help him get back on track. "But I just wasn’t ready at that time. I didn’t even know if I still wanted to play football. I just didn’t feel like it," says the young player who dreams of playing a World Cup with Morocco and in a big European club. "I’ll make it anyway."