Rising Star Ihattaren Switches Allegiance to Morocco, Snubs Netherlands

The efforts made by the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) have finally paid off. Mohamed Ihattaren’s wish to represent Morocco in the future has become a reality. After several years of uncertainty, FIFA has finally validated the change in the player’s sports nationality. The coach of the Moroccan national team, Walid Regragui, will now be able to call him up for the next matches of the Atlas Lions.

The one who had played in 2020 for the Dutch U18s, under the orders of Ronald Koeman, explains this change of sports nationality. "When I was going through difficult times, I felt that everyone in the Netherlands was against me, and that they simply considered me as a Moroccan. But when I was performing well, I suddenly became Dutch in their eyes. This contradiction, I have always felt and experienced throughout my journey there," he said in an interview.

Considered one of the greatest rising talents in Europe in 2019, Mohamed has started to decline. He was particularly marked by the death of his father in 2021. The drop in his level and the reduction of his opportunities within the clubs have prevented the continuation of his international career.