Lamine Yamal made a mistake by choosing Spain over Morocco, says legendary Mustapha Hadji

Morocco legend Mustapha Hadji has expressed regret over Barcelona prodigy Lamine Yamal’s decision to represent Spain instead of his country of origin.

Yamal, whose roots trace back to Morocco, opted to play for the 2010 World Cup champions, sparking criticism from some in the North African football community.

In an interview with Spanish outlet AS, Hadji said, “Even if Yamal had played for Spain, the love of the Spanish people for him would never have been like the love of the Moroccans. It is a shame that he did not choose Morocco, because it would have been completely different.”

“I recently read in a Spanish newspaper that some journalists are saying: We have Pedri and we want him, we want Yamal, but we don’t like him as much as Pedri. This alone is proof that he made a mistake. I wished he would play for Morocco, and he will remain Moroccan even if he plays for Spain,” he added.

Meanwhile, Morocco is gearing up for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, aiming to build on its historic World Cup run.

The Atlas Lions will kick off their campaign against Comoros on Sunday, with ambitions to challenge for the continental crown.