Abdessamad Ezzalzouli has mentioned his former Barcelona teammate Lamine Yamal, specifically his choice to represent Spain rather than Morocco…
One chose the Atlas Lions, the other La Roja. But both had the option to play for either national team. In an interview with the Spanish media outlet AS on Saturday, May 4th, Moroccan international Ez Abde (22 years old, 15 caps) revealed that he had tried to convince Lamine Yamal to play for the Atlas Lions as well, but failed to change his mind.
“I also spoke to Lamine, but he didn’t let himself be convinced. I was there during Barcelona’s pre-season to try to convince him to choose Morocco, but nothing. His decision must be respected… I hope Yamal will do his best because he is a spectacular footballer,” he assured, with a lot of sportsmanship.
Successful start with Spain
After a lengthy saga, Yamal opted for Spain in September 2023. Since joining the ranks of La Roja, the Barcelona player has earned 6 caps with 2 goals. He notably became the youngest scorer in the history of the Spanish national team at 16 years and 57 days after scoring in his debut against Georgia (7-1). Promising… Just like his season at Barça: the left-footer played 33 La Liga matches with the Blaugranas, scoring 4 goals. He also featured in 10 Champions League matches.
At an age where high school, video games, and driving lessons are the daily routine for most teenagers, Yamal delights with his performances at the highest level and is among the biggest promises in world football. While the Atlas Lions may have regrets, it’s also worth noting that the prodigy was born in Spain and has always played for Spain’s youth teams. Thus, seeing him join the senior squad was ultimately the logical continuation of his young career. Ez Abde, who might ultimately stay at Betis (21 matches, 1 goal in La Liga this season), therefore cannot blame himself for not succeeding in convincing Yamal.
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