Brahim Díaz chooses Morocco over Spain
The Real Madrid player was not a priority for the Spanish Federation. Morocco hope to count on him for next year’s Africa Cup of Nations.
Brahim Díaz has elected to play for Morocco. The Real Madrid player was not a priority for the Spanish Federation - he has never made an appearance at full international level in official competition and coach Luis de la Fuente has several options in that position. Morocco meanwhile have been trying to convince the winger to play for them for some time and now he has accepted the proposal to play for the Atlas Lions.
As AS sources close to the Moroccan Federation have learned, “the change of sporting nationality of the Real Madrid player is being resolved and depends on some small administrative details.” It also means that the Moroccan Federation has effectively ‘responded’ to Lamine Yamal’s decision to play for Spain rather than Morocco.
Friendly debut
Brahim was a key player under De la Fuente for Spain at youth level. The current senior team coach handed him his debut with the Under-19s when he was just over 17 years old and he was a regular with the Under-21s, making a total of eight appearances. In June 2021, when Sergio Busquets tested positive for Covid-19 De la Fuente handed Brahim his senior debut in a friendly against Lithuania at the Butarque. Brahim played the full 90 minutes and scored Spain’s second goal in the 4-0 win. But despite that, he was never summoned by the national team again. The Federation was aware of the possibility that the Real Madrid winger could opt for Morocco, but that has not changed their position towards him.