Coach De la Fuente says he 'respects' Díaz's determination to play for Morocco as a substitute of Spain

Spain coach Luis de la Fuente mentioned Monday he revered Brahim Díaz’s determination to symbolize Morocco moderately than his workforce, including that solely people who wish to play for La Roja are welcome in his squad.

The day by day Marca and different native media mentioned that the Actual Madrid winger would be a part of the Morocco squad for the upcoming worldwide break.

“I completely respect his determination,” De la Fuente instructed Spanish media. “Everybody has to make their very own selections.

“However I additionally all the time say that there are three necessities in terms of being with our nationwide workforce. First, that he’s eligible; second, that he desires to be with the workforce; and third, that the coach selects him. However crucial factor is to wish to play for us, with out calls for or circumstances, with equality of rights and obligations as all different gamers.”

De la Fuente mentioned he had not talked to Díaz, who has twin citizenship, earlier than or after the participant’s determination was introduced.

Spanish media mentioned the nationwide workforce’s lack of curiosity in Díaz performed a task in his determination. Morocco was reportedly lively in attempting to get him to hitch its workforce.

Díaz was an everyday in Spain’s youth squads, together with those that was once coached by De la Fuente.

He received his solitary senior cap, and scored a purpose, in a 4-0 win over Lithuania in a June 2021 pleasant match. The under-21 squad had been known as up for that sport as a result of senior gamers had been isolating attributable to COVID-19.

“Brahim performed with me greater than with some other coach,” De la Fuente mentioned. “I worth him lots and I want him the perfect. Each individual is free to make their very own determination.”

World soccer’s governing physique FIFA should course of any request by a member federation for a participant to alter national-team eligibility, although Diaz is a routine case as he has by no means performed a aggressive senior sport for Spain.

After performing effectively with Madrid this season, the 24-year-old Díaz had been touted as a possible call-up in De la Fuente’s squad that might be introduced on Friday for friendlies towards Colombia on March 22 and Brazil 4 days later.

Morocco coach Walid Regragui is anticipated to call his squad on Thursday for friendlies towards Angola and Mauritania on the identical dates.

Díaz started his senior profession with Manchester Metropolis earlier than becoming a member of Madrid in 2019. He additionally had an extended mortgage spell at AC Milan from 2020-23.

Morocco defeated Spain in a penalty shootout within the final 16 on the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

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