Everything in Ayyoub Bouaddi's youth career bore the hallmark of French football. Between 2022 and 2026, he passed through all the youth categories of the French national team: eight caps with the U16s, five with the U17s, three with the U18s, one with the U20s, and ten with the Espoirs, where he even served as captain. A résumé that logically should have led him to Les Bleus.
A choice dictated by circumstances?
The switch to Morocco is no accident but is mainly due to a timetable that did not favor France. According to information gathered by L'Équipe, the player hesitated for a long time between the two teams, but uncertainty about his place in the French squad for the World Cup ultimately tipped the scales in favor of Morocco.
On the French side, they confirm the decision came from the coaching staff. The national technical director of the French federation, Hubert Fournier, explained to The Athletic that Bouaddi had progressed through all selection stages, but the competition in his position was too strong to guarantee him an immediate spot with Les Bleus. Didier Deschamps thus felt the player was not quite ready yet to play in this World Cup with France, opening the door for Morocco.
The former Moroccan national technical director, Nasser Larguet, also shed light on this decision for RMC Sport. According to him, Bouaddi's decision was as much a matter of heart, as a player of Moroccan descent, as of reason: with the abundance of French midfield talent (Tchouaméni, Rabiot, Koné, Kanté, Zaïre-Emery...), a spot in the World Cup seemed much more accessible with Morocco than with France. Larguet even mentions a method previously used by the Moroccan Federation with a certain Achraf Hakimi, who was convinced at a very young age to represent the Lions of the Atlas instead of Spain.
When making his decision official, Ayyoub Bouaddi did not forget those who trained him. He sent a message of gratitude towards France, while also expressing his pride in joining Morocco for what he described as the beginning of a new chapter, marked by hard work and high standards.
A World Cup revelation... against his former team
Far from being a simple gamble, the Moroccan choice has paid off on the sporting front. Since the opening whistle of the World Cup, Bouaddi has emerged as one of the revelations of the tournament and as an undisputed starter in Morocco's midfield, confirming all the potential he has already shown in the colors of LOSC.
Asked about this situation in a press conference before the quarter-final, Didier Deschamps's assistant, Guy Stéphan, dodged the issue without controversy, simply pointing out that the player had made a respectable choice and that France is not immune to these kinds of situations given the depth of talent in its midfield.
A quarter-final with a special flavor
For Ayyoub Bouaddi, this match represents much more than just a knockout game. It is the opportunity to face, on the biggest stage, the country where he was born, where he was trained, and whose jersey he was wearing in youth competitions just a few months ago. It is a scenario reminiscent of other dual-nationality players who have had to choose between their country of birth and their country of origin, but here it takes on an extra dimension: that of an 18-year-old playing, against his former team, one of the biggest matches of his young career.
It remains to be seen whether, this Thursday July 9, Ayyoub Bouaddi will confirm his status as a World Cup revelation by helping to topple the World Cup runners-up... or if the reunion with France will turn against him.
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Oumar WANE
Rédacteur sportif
Passionné de sport depuis toujours, partage avec vous les dernières actualités et analyses du monde sportif.