Lamine Yamal has emerged as a star for both Barcelona and Spain over the past 12 months.
The 17-year-old was named in Luis de la Fuente’s squad for UEFA Euro 2024 last summer, and despite only turning 17 the day before the final victory over England, he played a pivotal role in the title.
He is now a sure starter for de la Fuente ahead of Spain’s Nations League double-header against the Netherlands later this month. However, his potential call-up to play for Spain has been marred by controversy, despite representing La Roja at four youth levels before his senior debut in September 2023.
Lamine Yamal’s family background includes a Moroccan father and an Equatorial Guinean mother, with the teenager born and raised just outside of Barcelona city centre. There are strong rumours that his father lobbied for Lamine Yamal to represent Morocco, with the teenager growing up in Rocafonda, which has a large population of Moroccan nationals.
Lamine Yamal in danger?
Despite the pressure, Lamine Yamal stuck to his initial decision to represent Spain, which former RFEF sporting director Albert Lugue described as difficult. External factors played a key role, with Luque suggesting that Lamine Yamal even feared being physically endangered by his son’s choice.
“It was not an easy case. The Moroccan coach specifically addressed Lamine Yamal’s family and the Moroccan government also tried to convince him,” Luque said in an interview with Cadena SER.
“But when we spoke to him, he told me: ‘I want to be European champion, I’m under pressure from all sides but I want to play for Spain. His father was more complicated. He told me that in Morocco they would kill him. He told me some things that are better left unsaid. His mother is the person Lamine relies on the most. She asked me if I wanted him to be with Spain, and I lied, I told her it was because he was ready and not because of [the threat of] Morocco.
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