FC Barcelona forward Lamine Yamal said he chose to represent Spain instead of Morocco because he believed Spain offered a better chance of competing for, and winning, the World Cup. The 17-year-old spoke about his decision in an interview aired on CBS News’ 60 Minutes on Sunday.
Yamal, who was born in Spain to a Moroccan father and Equatoguinean mother, acknowledged that he briefly considered Morocco, especially after the Atlas Lions had made it to the 2022 World Cup semifinals. But, he said, ultimately he had “no doubts” about choosing Spain.
“With all the love and respect I have for Morocco, I’ve always wanted to play in Europe,” he said. European football provides greater visibility and closer access to major international competitions.
