Munir El Haddadi makes formal request to play for Morocco
The forward, who made one appearance for Spain at full international level, has asked the FRMF to support him in his bid to play for Morocco.
Munir el Haddadi has contacted the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) to ask for their support in his petition to FIFA to allow him to play for Morocco, local daily Assabah reports today.
The Moroccan daily affirmed that the Barcelona forward, who is currently on loan at Alavés, has also visited FIFA officials in person to appeal that they "defend the rights of binational players".
Munir made his debut for Spain in 2014
Born to Moroccan parents in San Lorenzo del Escorial just north of Madrid, Munir represented Spain at youth level and made just one, brief appearance at full international level - in Spain's first Euro 2016 qualifier, against Macedonia on 8 September 2014. He came on a substitute on 77 minutes, replacing Koke in the 5-1 win.
He was hardly on the pitch for 13 minutes and he has never played for Spain since, but that short and sweet debut means that, under FIFA regulations, he now cannot be naturalised to be able to play for any other national team - despite his pleas to change his sport nationality. In declaration published by Assabah, Munir said that he doesn't understand why his 13-minute appearance for Spain should count so much for world football's governing body.
Munir wants to go to World Cup Russia with Morocco
Munir is keen to go to next year's World Cup finals with Morocco, who booked their ticket with a 0-2 win over Ivory Coast at the weekend.
The FRMF have voiced their interest in incorporating Munir on many occasions and have repeatedly made requests to the RFEF in Madrid to relinquish the player's sporting passport. If he gets his wish and FIFA allow him to switch nationalities, Munir would have to fight for a place in the Morocco side with players suchs as Khalid Boutaïb (the team's top scorer in qualifying), the promising Achraf Bencharki and wingers Nordin Amrabat and Hakim Ziyech.
So far this season, Munir has played nine matches with Alavés, eight of which in the starting line-up, and has scored one goal.
