A promising young star of FC Barcelona, Lamine Yamal, is already being courted by several national teams. Both Spain and Morocco are eyeing the 16-year-old player.
The promising right winger has made a name for himself by making three appearances with FC Barcelona’s first team, accumulating a total of 106 minutes on the field. His performances have caught the attention of Spanish coach Luis De La Fuente, who is seriously considering including Lamine Yamal in the upcoming roster of La Roja, as reported by Mundo Deportivo, a Spanish sports newspaper.
Lamine Yamal seems to have successfully adapted to the team led by the iconic Xavi in recent months. This progress has particularly impressed Luis De La Fuente, who has been growing confident in the young player’s skills. As a result, the Spanish press, confident in this potential call-up, explains that the coach might include Yamal in the list of players called up to face Georgia (on September 8th) and Cyprus (on September 12th) in the Euro 2024 qualifiers.
However, there is some uncertainty surrounding the situation. Initially expected to be included in the Spanish U18 squad, Lamine Yamal is surprisingly absent, opening the door to various speculations on both sides of the Pyrenees. This ambiguity is further fueled by the unique status of the young player. In addition to his Spanish nationality, he remains eligible to represent Equatorial Guinea, his mother’s country of origin, as well as Morocco, his father’s country.
Following the historic semi-final performance of the Moroccan national team in the last World Cup, the Lions of the Atlas have shown a keen desire to capitalize on their success by recruiting emerging talents like Lamine Yamal. Rabie Takassa, a scout for the Moroccan federation, clarified the situation by emphasizing that the player could choose among three teams due to his diverse family roots. In a statement to the Spanish newspaper, Takassa stated, “His father is Moroccan, his mother is from Equatorial Guinea, and he was born in Spain, so he can choose among three teams. Ultimately, he will play where he feels best, where his heart tells him.”
At the crossroads of his young career, Lamine Yamal, who has already progressed from the Spanish U15 to U19 selection, faces a crucial decision. Both Spain and Morocco are charmed by this Catalan talent who has barely turned 16. The future of this young prodigy looks promising, and all that remains is for him to make a decision, guided by his heart, on which nation he will proudly represent on the international stage.
