Morocco manager Mohamed Ouahbi has accepted Younes Ebnoutalib’s decision to represent Germany, while making clear that the striker had been monitored by the Atlas Lions long before Jurgen Klopp called him up.
The Eintracht Frankfurt forward was included in both squads announced by Klopp for his first international break in charge of Germany, providing a strong indication of where his international future lay. Klopp later said he had spoken to all his selections and that they were “proud to represent Germany”.
Ouahbi has now confirmed that Morocco have moved on from the matter, although he also rejected suggestions that Ebnoutalib had been overlooked before establishing himself in the Bundesliga.
“He was in the preliminary squad for May,” Ouahbi said.
The Morocco manager explained that Ebnoutalib had arrived from a lower level, had only joined Eintracht Frankfurt in January and had been affected by several injuries. With only 136 or 139 minutes played, depending on the figures quoted by Ouahbi, selecting him for the World Cup appeared premature.
However, Ouahbi was keen to stress that Morocco had been tracking the player for some time.
“He had been in our preliminary squads for a year. I do not think that was the case with Germany.”
Ouahbi said the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) had made a direct effort to understand the player’s situation and present its plans to him.
“We went to see him, we scouted him. I had a telephone conversation with him and explained the project without promising anything,” he said.
Ebnoutalib’s position changed after an impressive start to the season with Eintracht Frankfurt. His performances made him a more obvious candidate for Morocco, and Ouahbi acknowledged that he had intended to select him for the latest international break.
Germany then moved decisively, with Klopp’s arrival, the rebuilding of the Mannschaft following a disappointing World Cup and the striker’s form combining to create an opportunity for the player to switch allegiance.
“He deserved to be called up and he would have been called up today, I do not hide that. But he chose Germany, so good luck to him. The matter is closed,” Ouahbi said.
He added: “Morocco cannot be negotiated; it must be earned.”
The decision represents a setback for the FRMF, which has secured a number of high-profile decisions from dual-national players in recent years. Ouahbi, however, said it would not affect the team’s progress.
“We are sixth in the world rankings and we are moving forward,” he said.
Morocco have also secured the international future of Abdellah Ouazane, another highly rated dual-national prospect included among six new faces in the latest squad.