Younes Ebnoutalib’s Germany decision linked to Mohamed Ouahbi dispute

The agent of Younes Ebnoutalib has criticised Morocco manager Mohamed Ouahbi after the Eintracht Frankfurt striker received his first call-up to the Germany national team.

Mourad Amani used an interview with Winwin to express his frustration with Ouahbi, claiming that Ebnoutalib’s decision to represent Germany was influenced more by the Morocco manager than by the national team itself.

The 23-year-old had strongly indicated his interest in Morocco at the start of the year, one month before Ouahbi was appointed as manager of the Lions de l’Atlas. Ebnoutalib had hoped to be selected for the 2026 World Cup, but was ultimately left out.

Amani believes that omission played a significant part in the striker’s eventual decision to choose Germany.

The agent said Ouahbi had failed to show sufficient consideration towards Ebnoutalib and went further by accusing the manager of disrespecting his client.

Ouahbi addressed the player’s absence at a news conference on Thursday, when he announced his squad for Morocco’s next fixtures. Morocco will face Gabon and Lesotho on 25 and 29 September respectively, in the opening two rounds of qualifying for CAN 2027.

The Morocco manager had explained that Ebnoutalib’s previous non-selection was because of injuries suffered by the player.

Amani rejected that explanation, insisting that the decision not to call up Ebnoutalib was solely made by Ouahbi. He also revealed that he had contacted the Federation royale marocaine de football (FRMF) directly to offer the striker’s services, but that his approach was unsuccessful.

The agent also provided details of the discussions that preceded Ebnoutalib’s switch to Germany.

According to Amani, the German Football Association (DFB) had been monitoring the player since his time at Elversberg. The photograph involving Jurgen Klopp was therefore the culmination of a process that had been under way for some time.

Klopp, the former Liverpool manager, had come out of retirement to help restore the Germany national team’s reputation. Amani said Klopp succeeded in convincing Ebnoutalib of the value of representing Germany.

The agent’s account also amounted to another criticism of Ouahbi, as he disclosed the substance of Klopp’s message to the striker.