Former RFEF official reveals how Barcelona rising star was convinced to choose Spain over Morocco | OneFootball

Lamine Yamal has certifiably become a star for not only Barcelona but for the Spanish national team as well.

At the age of just 17, the young attacker has 17 appearances with La Roja, with the player notably playing a crucial role in helping the nation reclaim the European Championship last summer.

However, while Yamal is now a designated star for Spain, the RFEF had feared that the Barcelona attacker might have chosen to play for Morocco earlier on in his career.

How Yamal was convinced to play for Spain

In a recent interview with AS (h/t SPORT), former RFEF Director of Youth, Francis Hernandez, revealed how he managed to convince Yamal to choose Spain over Morocco.

“I’m happy. We had faith in his potential. I did my job so that he could stay with us. The first thing is to understand that he will be a difference-maker and that there is a risk that he won’t play for Spain,” he said.

Hernandez explained that it was important for RFEF to stay close to him and to make him trust in his prospects at the Spanish national team.

Lamine Yamal needed some convincing to play for Spain (Photo by Gualter Fatia/Getty Images)

“I tried to be close to him, to make him trust us. We had to meet with him and his family to tell them what our objective was,” he revealed.

Hernandez even claimed that Yamal was not doubtful about playing for Spain, and his family even appreciated the RFEF’s efforts.

“My trip to Barcelona was related to the fear of losing him and the idea of ​​doing our job well. Lamine was not in doubt about playing for Spain, but when he showed the potential he had, he immediately caught the attention of other countries. The family appreciated our approach,” he said.

Finally, Francis Hernandez explained why Yamal decided to play for Spain instead of Morocco, citing his close connection with the country and the fact that he played in La Liga.

“He accepted because he knows it’s the best thing for him. He lives in Spain, plays for a Spanish club, and I had to convey to him the sporting objective we had for him, and also that we were going to help him in his training and development.

“Conveying that to him meant something positive. I hope we have Lamine for a long time,” he concluded.

Lamine Yamal is expected to be in action for Spain this month, in their upcoming UEFA Nations League quarterfinal against the Netherlands, where Barcelona will also hope for the selection of returning star Gavi.