Morocco head coach Walid Regragui has opened up about his personal attempt to convince Barcelona wonderkid Lamine Yamal to represent the Atlas Lions, only for the teenager to turn down the approach with honesty and respect.
Speaking on Spanish TV show El Chiringuito de Jugones, Regragui confirmed long-standing rumours that Morocco had actively courted Yamal, whose father is Moroccan and mother Equatorial Guinean, in hopes of securing his allegiance at international level.
The 16-year-old, widely regarded as one of the brightest talents in world football, instead chose to represent Spain, the country of his birth and development.
He has already broken multiple records with La Roja, becoming the youngest player and goalscorer in their history.
“Lamine Yamal is a generational star that we tried to bring into the Moroccan national team, but it wasn’t possible,” Regragui told interviewer Josep Pedrerol, adding that he had personally called the teenager to present Morocco’s ambitious vision.
“We spoke about our plans — the AFCON 2025 on home soil, the 2030 World Cup that we’re co-hosting — but two days later, he called me back and told me he felt Spanish. He said he had always played for Spain. He was incredibly sincere.”
Yamal’s decision, though disappointing for Moroccan fans, was met with grace by Regragui, who praised the young forward’s maturity.
“I wished him good luck. He was straight with me from the beginning, without playing games,” said the coach, who conducted the entire interview in fluent Spanish — a language he polished during his playing days at Racing Santander from 2004 to 2007.
🇲🇦 REGRAGUI, seleccionador marroquí, explica POR QUÉ LAMINE eligió ESPAÑA:
🫂 “Fue muy respetuoso conmigo, me dijo que se sentía español”.
👉 “Intentamos todo para tenerle, será uno de los grandes”. pic.twitter.com/iszsudsIjI
— El Chiringuito TV (@elchiringuitotv) April 15, 2025
The story has stirred emotions across Morocco, where many had hoped the Barcelona prodigy would follow in the footsteps of Achraf Hakimi and Sofiane Boufal — players of dual heritage who chose to wear the red of the Atlas Lions.
Instead, Yamal is now firmly embedded in Spain’s future plans. But Regragui’s openness has drawn widespread admiration for the respectful way he handled the high-stakes recruitment.
As Morocco prepares to host the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and co-host the 2030 World Cup, the focus now shifts to nurturing their own next generation of stars — while keeping the door open to others who may still choose the nation of their roots.
