Attempting star Abdessamad Ezzalzouli (20) of FC Barcelona has decided against a career in the national team of his country of birth, Morocco, shortly before the Africa Cup.
According to Moroccan media, the 20-year-old wrote in a letter to the North African country’s federation that he wanted to play for Spain in the future.
Abde, who moved from Morocco to Spain with his family as a child, is said to have already been granted Spanish citizenship. Morocco’s national coach Vahid Halilhodzic nominated Abde on Monday for the Africa Cup, which starts on 9 January. Morocco will face Gabon, Ghana and the Comoros in the preliminary round.
Abde’s case is reminiscent of that of Munir El Haddadi, who also opted against Morocco and for Spain at the age of 19 after a strong start at Barcelona. However, he only made one senior appearance for the Iberians in 2014. Later, he wanted to play for Morocco after all and was only given the green light in January 2021.
Abde has made his breakthrough on the attacking flank in this difficult season for Barcelona, making eight appearances in La Liga for the professionals and scoring one goal (in a 2-2 draw against Osasuna). In Barcelona’s last game of the calendar year, a 1-1 draw at Sevilla, Abde played 90 minutes for the first time. His new standing and the fact that he would miss the January games with the Catalans in the event of the Africa Cup are also said to have encouraged Abde in his decision.