Morocco may not be able to lay their hands on Brahim Diaz ahead of the 2018 FIFA World Cup after several futile attempts by their Football Federation.
The Manchester City attacking midfielder made it clear to the Atlas Lions coach Herve Renard on Thursday that he had definitely committed his international career to Spain national team.
Born in Malaga to a Moroccan father and a Spanish mother, Diaz, 18, is yet to earn a call up to La Roja but has represented the junior teams (U17, U19 and U21).
Moroccan officials have paid several visits to the player’s family, following an intensive naturalisation process that began in 2014 and meant to ‘bring back talents belonging to the soil’ to help rebuild the national team.
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The North African country currently tops the list of World Cup teams with players born abroad, totalling 61.5%, according to the CIES Football Observatory.
Diaz made his Champions League debut for Manchester City against Feyenoord last month, playing 28 minutes.
