Brahim Diaz has decided to play for Morocco

Real Madrid striker, Brahim Diaz, has decided to play for the Moroccan national team rather than the Spanish national team at the international level after his name was called by coach Walid Regragui. Diaz was on Reragui's list of 24 players for the matches against Angola and Mauritania this month, the Moroccan Football Federation said in a statement.

The 24-year-old has only made one cap for the Spanish senior team and scored one goal in a 4-0 friendly win over Lithuania in 2021. FIFA rules say players can change nationality as long as they have less than three appearances for a country before the age of 21 and have not played for that country for at least three years. Diaz was born in Malaga but has the right to represent Morocco through his as his father was born over there. He has represented his home region at various youth levels and even has one cap for the Spanish senior national team.

The Atlas Lions have been trying for five years to convince Diaz to play for them, with Reragui having travelled to Milan and Madrid five times this season. The President of the Moroccan FA, Fouzi Lekjaa, and politicians from the country have also visited the winger. However, the RFEF (Spanish FA) said that they had not been officially informed about Diaz's decision to represent Morocco.

According to an ESPN report, there was disappointment and surprise at the way the RFEF handled the situation, considering how they had acted differently in similar cases. The report also highlights attempts to persuade Barcelona youngster Lamine Yamal, who is also eligible to play for Morocco, but the player prefers Spain and also the fact that the RFEF is sending top officials to meet Yamal in early 2022. However, sources at the RFEF insisted that they were treating Diaz the same as any other player who has the opportunity to represent more than one country, and added that they did not understand his decision. "Everyone is free to make their own decision. For me, there are three steps to call: first, you are eligible, second, you want to play for the national team and third, the coach chooses you," said Spain coach Luis de la Fuente.

"I haven't spoken to [Díaz], I can call players or not and the players do what they have to do, work with him a lot [with the Under-21 team] and appreciate him and respect him a lot." Diaz spent time at Manchester City's academy before joining Real Madrid in 2019. He made 21 appearances in 18 months before moving to AC Milan on loan in the summer of 2020.

The midfielder became a star during three seasons in Italy, recording 18 goals and 15 assists in 124 matches. He also helped Milan win the Scudetto in the 2021/22 season. This season, Diaz has scored eight goals in 32 appearances for Los Blancos, although he has been used mostly as a substitute by head coach Carlo Ancelotti. He was part of the major teams that have not won any league titles in the last three decades which needs to be perfect all the time whereas both sides have played for the best. The current sides have been part of all La Liga titles since they have been burgled in race titles but it was not the same feature. 

It was the last time when the Gunners faced both sides in the league round of 16 until they were bottled by the neighborhood side Al Hilal who had been tormenting the biggest win of the season until they dedicated, but he was not only part of the season.