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Ayyoub Bouaddi reportedly chooses Morocco over France for international football
via Le Matin2 min read
Ayyoub Bouaddi, an 18-year-old midfielder for Lille, is reportedly set to join Morocco's national team, the Atlas Lions, ahead of the 2026 World Cup. Despite interest from the French Federation, sources indicate Bouaddi has decided in favor of Morocco. He is considered one of Europe's most promising young talents in his position. Bouaddi has previously represented France at youth levels up to the U21 team, where he served as captain, earning 10 caps and scoring 1 goal. He has played 40 matches across all competitions this season. Journalist Nasredine Nasri of Canal+ suggests Bouaddi will publicly announce his decision on Sunday, following Lille's Ligue 1 match against AS Monaco. This move would be a significant boost for Morocco, adding a player known for his technical quality, game vision, and ability to perform under pressure. Bouaddi's potential valuation of over 50 million euros at 18 years old would make him the first Moroccan player to reach this milestone at such a young age. This situation highlights the Moroccan Football Federation's success, under Fouzi Lekjaâ's leadership, in attracting young dual-national talents who have been developed in top European academies, further enhancing Morocco's sporting project on the international stage.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Le Matin.
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