Expected to join Morocco’s first team, Franco-Moroccan midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi finally joins the Bleuets list this Thursday. The 18-year-old nugget will be traveling for the next two Euro Espoirs qualifying matches.
Morocco, France and finally the Bleuets for Ayyoub Bouaddi. The 18-year-old young star will have been at the center of the debates before the announcement of the respective lists of Mohamed Ouahbi and Didier Deschamps. The Lille resident, who has dual nationality, was not selected with Morocco for the next international break in preparation for the 2026 World Cup. A choice explained at a press conference by the new coach of the Atlas Lions.
“He is a young player with great potential who has the possibility of playing for two selections. After the discussions we had, he is a player who loves his country, Morocco. We proposed a plan, the project, I think nothing was negative but we must not rush the young players either. It is a decision that he must make.” And to continue: “I have enough work to think of other things. We put that aside but we follow everyone. I don’t think we need to spend a lot of time talking about it but the exchanges were interesting.”
“I didn’t interact with him”
For his part, Didier Deschamps also spoke to the media about Bouaddi’s situation, insisting on letting the player use his free will.
“I saw that Bouaddi was not selected by Morocco. He has this freedom to choose, I am not going to take it away from him. I have not exchanged with him, I am not going to change the way I operate. Obviously, we follow his performances but there is very strong competition.
The French coach then explained why he did not include his profile in this latest list before the 2026 World Cup: “I took six midfielders but there are others who have already come and who could be part of it. I’m not going to anticipate what I’m going to decide in May. Afterwards, you’ll have to ask someone else because it won’t be me.”
Called up with the Bleuets, it is Gérald Baticle who will benefit from the talent of Ayyoub Bouaddi for the next two qualifying matches for the Euro Espoirs (Luxembourg on March 26, Iceland on March 30). The opportunity also for the player to return to familiar territory, he who has been playing in the youth categories of the France team since 2022.
