Schalke star Soufiane El Faouzi chooses Morocco despite Germany option

Schalke midfielder Soufiane El Faouzi is preparing to return to the Morocco national team after reaffirming his commitment to representing the Atlas Lions despite having the possibility of switching his international allegiance to Germany.

The 24-year-old was invited to join Morocco’s senior squad in May and subsequently made his international debut in a friendly against Burundi.

El Faouzi featured for 45 minutes as Morocco recorded an emphatic 5-0 victory, giving him his first taste of senior international football with the North African giants.

Because the match was a friendly, El Faouzi remained technically eligible to change his international allegiance and represent Germany in the future. However, the Schalke player explained that his experience with Morocco immediately made a strong impression on him.

“It was a friendly match, yet I really enjoyed the experience, and I had a good relationship with the coach,” El Faouzi said in an interview with Sky Sports.

The midfielder made it clear that his decision to continue with Morocco was driven by personal conviction rather than external pressure.

“It was a decision from the heart,” he added, effectively confirming his intention to continue his international career with the Atlas Lions.

El Faouzi is now looking forward to returning to the Moroccan squad and further establishing himself within a team that has enjoyed a remarkable rise on the international stage in recent years.

The Schalke player also expressed his excitement at the prospect of sharing the dressing room with prominent Moroccan internationals Brahim Diaz and Ismael Saibari.

Morocco’s recent performances at the World Cup have played a significant role in raising expectations around the national team, with the Atlas Lions continuing to build on their impressive progress in global competition.

“The last two World Cup campaigns were very strong for Morocco. Consequently, the country continues to develop steadily,” El Faouzi said.

His decision represents another commitment to Morocco from a player who had the option of pursuing a different international path, as El Faouzi looks to continue his development with the Atlas Lions and compete for a regular place in the national team.