When FC Barcelona signed the young Abdessamad Ezzalzouli from fourth division Hercules Alicante in the summer, it was one of the unmistakable indications that the Spanish world club is currently not in good financial shape. The Catalans had to shell out just two million euros for the then 19-year-old. And actually he should first prove himself in Barça’s reserve team.
Less than six months later, things have changed a bit. “Ez Abde” – as the Moroccan is called – is suddenly on everyone’s lips. In view of the acute shortage of staff, Barca’s coach Xavi ordered the youngster into the first team, where the left foot developed like a rocket. Abde played his way into the limelight on the left attacking side and has been an integral part of the FCB starting XI for a few weeks.
Nominated by Morocco for the Africa Cup
Which of course aroused desires. Even with Vahid Halilhodzic. The Moroccan national coach nominated Abde for the upcoming Africa Cup in Cameroon (09.01.-06.02.21). Pragmatic, as the Bosnian football teacher is, he judged the young outside player: “He’s not Messi or Mbappé but when he plays for a team like Barcelona he has quality.”
Halilhodzic also revealed: “I have spoken to the player a couple of times. He told me that he would like to play for his parents’ country and that he would like to speak to the people in charge at FC Barcelona.” After all, if he were to take part in the Africa Cup, his club would miss him for weeks.
Barça or national team?
Barcelona officials, in turn, told Abde that they would like to see him stay in Barcelona. Abde would slow down his steep “Blaugrana” climb if he took part in the continental championship. He has to decide: Barça or national team.
With success, the young player has now solved the problem in his own way: According to the Spanish newspaper “Marca”, he wrote a letter to the Moroccan association in which he announced that he would be renouncing the Moroccan national team. He wants to play for Spain in the future. For the country to which he and his parents from Morocco moved as a child.
Spanish citizenship already applied for
According to reports, Abde has already applied for Spanish citizenship.
This is how an association can lose one of its greatest talents. Morocco deleted Abde on Friday (01.01.2021) from the squad list for the Africa Cup. Tarik Tissoudali from the Belgian club KAA Gent was nominated.
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Status: 01.01.2022, 12:38 p.m.