The president of the Morocco football federation, Fouzi Lekjaa, has discussed Lamine Yamal choosing Spain over his country.
Barcelona’s Lamine was born in Catalunya to a Moroccan father and played for Spain at all age levels before making the first team and winning Euro 2024.
On the face of it, it seems Morocco never had a chance of signing him, but they still held meetings as a sign of respect, which was communicated throughout the process.
Lekjaa made sure that respect was made when discussing Morocco’s approach to trying to tempt players that are eligible to join them.
Morocco explain Lamine appraoch
“He is a great player,” the executive said on Aljazeera360. “I honestly don’t know how else to say it more clearly.
“Regarding Lamine Yamal: we remain silent because his father’s side of the family is Moroccan, that’s true. We respect him.
“We respect the other national teams and the choices they make. We don’t want to debate those decisions any further.
“More than anything, we always wish him well because we consider him Moroccan through his father.”
He then explained their approach, fending off any criticism.
Lekjaa continued: “The issue you’re raising actually proves the opposite of what some people claim – that we pressure this player or that player.
“You can talk to me about footballing matters, about the sporting project, about whether the project is convincing or not.
“But personal convictions and individual choices are not something we interfere with.
“During the last Ramadan, I visited Valladolid and spoke with the club president. We spoke openly.
“We presented our football project: ‘This is what we want in Morocco, this is what we have achieved and what we want to continue achieving’.
“If a player is convinced – and believes there is a place and an opportunity for him – then he is welcome. He makes his decision.”
Lekjaa then set out a challenge for Lamine at the World Cup.
“I spoke with the club president, and I hope that one day we meet in two matches, God willing, and win them,” he said.
“So that we can demonstrate that the sporting choice we offered was the correct one.”
Why Lamine Yamal chose Spain over Morocco
Lamine explained his choice earlier this year, and that while he was always going to pick Spain, Morocco’s class in their approach made things difficult.
“With all due respect and affection for Morocco, I’ve always wanted to play in a European Championship, to play here in Europe,” – Lamine Yamal
“It was a strange experience, to be honest,” he said.
“The thought of playing for Morocco was definitely on my mind. Morocco had just reached the World Cup semi-finals, but when it came down to it, I never hesitated.
“With all due respect and affection for Morocco, I’ve always wanted to play in a European Championship, to play here in Europe.
“European football is more visible and closer to the international level. While at Barça, I wanted to win a European Championship, which, thank God, I’ve already achieved, and now I want to play in a World Cup with a chance of winning it.
“I’ll always have a soft spot for Morocco. It’s also my country. Honestly, it wouldn’t have been strange or bad at all to play for them, but Spain was playing in the European Championship. I grew up in Spain, and I also feel that it’s my country.”
Also discussing the matter was former Morocco coach Walid Regragui later corroborated Lamine’s lack of hesitation when trying to sign him.
He commented: “We tried to bring him into the Moroccan national team, but he chose Spain. We wish him all the best. What he’s achieving at his age is remarkable.
“He was truthful with me and with the federation.
“We presented him with our vision for Morocco — the Africa Cup of Nations, which will be held in our country, the 2030 World Cup, and all the love Morocco could offer him — but he never lied or pretended to be torn between Morocco and Spain.
“He told me after just two or three days. He called me with great respect and said, ‘Coach, I thank you for everything, but I have chosen Spain. I feel Spanish, I’ve played for their national teams since I was young, and I want to continue all the way to the senior squad’.
“Of course, we want to bring the best players to the national team, but we wish him success. He’s an honest young man, and I really appreciated that conversation. He will be one of the great stars of world football.”
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