Footballer Lamine Yamal has spoken out regarding his decision to play for the Spanish national team instead of Morocco, in a new interview with the Royal Spanish Football Federation (FREF) interview.
The 16-year-old striker said he had never doubted his final choice, and had his eyes set on Spain since the beginning.
“I’ve always played for Spain, ever since I was under 15. It’s always been clear to me that I wanted to play for Spain. I want to win a Euro, a World Cup and anything else I can.”
📹 INSIDE | Lamine Yamal: “Quiero ganar todo lo que se pueda con la @SEFutbol“.
🚗💨 Acompañamos al jovencísimo delantero en sus primeras horas con una absoluta a la que piensa aportar “alegría, verticalidad y desparpajo”.
ℹ️ https://t.co/qyraPJQzhR#VamosEspaña | #EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/MsvLvPM9mY
— Selección Española de Fútbol (@SEFutbol) September 4, 2023
After his decision was made public last Friday, the player said he was motivated to play top-level football.
“It’s incredible to be able to experience this, and I want to make the most of it. I’m calm, I’m used to Barça, so we’ll see how it goes,i hope to bring youth and joy and on the pitch, verticality and self-confidence.”
Born in Spain to a Moroccan father, Lamine Jamal has been called up by Spanish coach Luis la Fuente for La Roja’s two qualifiers for EURO 2024 in Germany, against Georgia on September 8 and Cyprus on September 12.
On the eve of this announcement, Moroccan coach Walid Regragui spoke about Lamine’s case, saying: “Whether it’s me, the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) or its president, we’ve all worked to get him to join the Moroccan team, but it remains a personal choice that won’t be easy for a 16-year-old to make.”