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Marrakech – In a candid interview with the YouTube channel El After de Post United, Everton’s new left-back Adam Aznou revealed he would have chosen to represent Morocco if he were in Lamine Yamal’s position.
The 19-year-old defender, who recently transferred from Bayern Munich to Everton on a four-year contract, opened up about his international allegiance and his friendship with Barcelona’s young star.
“I respect his decision, but if I were him, I would have chosen Morocco,” Aznou stated about his former La Masia teammate. “When you reach the highest level, the first team, you must follow your heart. It’s not about convenience. You play for a national team with passion, to defend your country.”
Aznou stressed that his choice to represent Morocco came from deep emotional ties rather than opportunistic considerations. “Morocco gives me everything. I deeply love this country, its culture, everything it represents. I asked myself: What does my heart want? It wants me to play for Morocco. I didn’t hesitate for a second,” he explained.
The defender acknowledged his admiration for Yamal’s exceptional talent, calling him “simply the best player in the world today.” Aznou admitted he didn’t expect his friend to reach such heights at just 16 or 17 years old, but was not surprised by his overall success.
Despite choosing different paths internationally, the two young players have maintained their friendship. They reconnected last May during a match between Valladolid and Barcelona, exchanging pleasantries on the field.
Aznou recounted a conversation with Yamal about their respective national team choices: “When I went to Morocco, I told him jokingly: ‘You stay there, I’m leaving. I’m following my heart. It’s up to you to see, do what you want, but I respect your decision.’”
While Aznou doesn’t regret his choice, he also acknowledges Yamal’s impressive accomplishments with Spain.
The Barcelona prodigy became a European champion at just 17 years old after a historic Euro 2024 campaign, paving his way to his first major title.
This success has seemingly validated Yamal’s decision to decline the advances from Morocco’s coach Walid Regragui and the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF).
Meanwhile, Aznou’s international journey has been complex. After playing for Morocco at the U15 level, he switched to Spain’s U16 and U17 teams before definitively returning to the Atlas Lions in March 2023, encouraged by the FRMF’s efforts.
The defender made his debut with Morocco’s senior team on September 9, 2024, playing the entire match against Lesotho under coach Regragui.
Before joining Everton this summer, Aznou spent the latter half of last season on loan at Real Valladolid, where he featured in 13 La Liga matches, accumulating 874 minutes of playing time.
His move to the Premier League signals a clear intent to rise through the ranks and secure steady first-team appearances.
According to multiple sources, Yamal’s decision to represent Spain came amid contrasting family influences, with his father and uncle reportedly favoring Morocco while his mother supported the Spanish option.
Read also: ‘He Felt Spanish’: Regragui Reveals Details of Lamine Yamal’s Spain Choice
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