Former Sevilla player Bono and Lamine Yamal's choice to play for the Spanish national team: "In Morocco, we feel he's one of us."

September 2023 will always be a key date in Lamine Yamal 's career. It was then that he declined Morocco's offer and chose to play for the Spanish national team , with whom he has made history: he is the youngest player to debut (16 years and 157 days) and to score, having done so in his first match against Georgia, and the youngest scorer in the history of the European Championship (16 years, 11 months and 26 days). A generational talent that the Atlas Lions have not forgotten, as reflected in the latest statements by Yassine Bounou .

The Moroccan goalkeeper, formerly of Sevilla, where he played between 2019 and 2023, has praised the young Barça striker's choice to represent Spain on the pitch in an interview with TyC Sports : "We don't have to get into that madness, because everyone is free to choose where they want to play ."

"As long as he doesn't speak ill of us, as long as he doesn't throw stones at Morocco," added the current Al Hilal goalkeeper, who confessed that, despite the fact that the Barcelona number 10 wears the Spanish national team jersey, he feels he's part of the African team. "Honestly, I feel he's one of us. Even though he chose Spain, we here in Morocco feel he's one of us ."

Bono also praised Lamine Yamal: "When I watch him, I enjoy it. I enjoy watching him play . It's been a long time since I watched a game to see a specific player," the goalkeeper said. "We wish him the best, but not against Morocco, but we wish him the best because he's clearly a good guy."

The FC Barcelona forward, a continental champion since last summer after leading Spain to its fourth European Championship, opted for the Spanish national team despite Moroccan interest. "He chose Spain; he told me two or three days later. He called me respectfully and said, ' Mister, thank you for the affection, but I'm going to choose Spain. I feel Spanish, and I've played since I was a youth player, and I want to play for the senior team,'" Morocco coach Walid Regragui revealed a few months ago on El Chiringuito .

"He was honest with me and the Federation. We tried everything to give him the project we had with Morocco , with the African Cup coming to our country, with the 2030 World Cup, and with the affection the country has for Lamine, but the kid never lied. He didn't play the 'I'm Moroccan or Spanish' game," the coach added.