A Highly-rated midfielder in Ligue 1 has decided to turn down the chance to represent France for one of Africa's biggest teams.
Lille midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi has pledged his allegiance to the Atlas Lions, with FIFA approving his switch of allegiance.
The 18-year-old, who was born in France to Moroccan parents, had previously represented the French at youth team level.
لنرحب بـ أيــــوب بـــوعـــدي ضمن عائلة أســـود الأطــلــس 🦁
Welcome home 𝐀𝐲𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐛 𝐁𝐨𝐮𝐚𝐝𝐝𝐢 🏠 #DimaMaghrib 🇲🇦 pic.twitter.com/IP6p8ccqTh
Lille coach Bruno Genesio also denied claims that he helped influence Bouaddi's decision to represent the Atlas Lions.
“It’s neither my role nor my job to advise them on that, when it’s a choice that should be guided by what’s inside you. Choosing a nation is a very powerful thing and it belongs to each of us. Everyone has their own way of experiencing their choices, so it wasn’t my role to advise them," the coach said, as per Africa Soccer.
It would have been very inappropriate. I didn’t want to influence them. We can have an opinion, but it’s often biased because we don’t have the same feelings as the people involved. He (Bouaddi) told me this in advance on Wednesday,” he said.
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Source: Soccer Laduma
