Ebnoutalib explains why Jurgen Klopp’s call swung international choice towards Germany

Younes Ebnoutalib has revealed that a personal phone call from Jurgen Klopp was the decisive factor in his decision to represent Germany rather than Morocco.

The Eintracht Frankfurt striker had been followed by the Federation Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF) for some time and had previously represented Morocco at under-15 level. But after making a strong impression in the Bundesliga, he opted for Germany.

The decision prompted criticism from some Morocco supporters, while the player’s representatives also questioned the way head coach Mohamed Ouahbi had handled the situation.

Ebnoutalib has now offered a different perspective on the events. Asked about his international choice, the Bundesliga’s current leading goalscorer confirmed there had been contact with Morocco before explaining what ultimately made the difference.

“There were discussions with Morocco. But when Jurgen Klopp calls, you cannot say no,” he said.

Klopp’s personal intervention therefore played a major role. The former Liverpool manager had a lengthy conversation with Ebnoutalib in an effort to persuade him to join the Germany national team.

For a young player born and developed in Germany, receiving a direct call from one of football’s most respected and charismatic figures while choosing between the two countries was significant. The circumstances also make it difficult for Ouahbi to compete with an approach of that stature.

Ebnoutalib’s comments have consequently softened some of the criticism aimed at the Morocco coach. Ouahbi had insisted that he began working on the player’s case well before his recent emergence.

“He is a player we have been following for a long time. I do not think he was in Germany’s initial squad last season,” Ouahbi said, in a remark that appeared to question the Mannschaft’s handling of the player. The comment led to a strong response from Ebnoutalib’s agent.

Ouahbi also said he had personally spoken to the striker to outline Morocco’s plans, while making no promise that he would be selected.

“We went to see him, we scouted him, I had a discussion with him on the phone and explained the project without promising anything,” he said.

That account was disputed by the player’s representatives and fuelled suggestions that the FRMF had mishandled the case. Ebnoutalib’s latest explanation indicates, at the very least, that Morocco did not simply lose the contest through a lack of effort. Germany had a particularly powerful argument in the form of Klopp’s direct appeal.

Ouahbi moved to close the matter soon afterwards.

“Morocco is not negotiated, it is earned. He deserved to be called up and he would have been called up today […] but he chose Germany. Good luck to him; the case is closed,” he said.

At 23 and enjoying a breakthrough season with Eintracht Frankfurt, Ebnoutalib has chosen the country of his birth. He will now have to turn that confidence into an international career, with competition for places in Germany certain to be fierce and any call-up offering no guarantee of a long-term place.

Ebnoutalib made his decision knowing those risks. His challenge is to ensure that the call from Klopp does not eventually become a choice he regrets.