Young midfielder Thiago Petarash, a Real Madrid talent, has entered the radar of the Moroccan national team after coach Mohamed Ouahbi took direct action to convince him to represent the “Atlas Lions” in the coming phase.
According to the Moroccan website “Hesport,” Mohamed Ouahbi traveled to Spain to contact Petarash and open direct negotiations with him, aiming to persuade him to represent the Moroccan national team, leveraging the player’s Moroccan heritage, despite his previous participation with the Spanish youth national teams.
Ouahbi’s move comes at a time when Petarash is going through a significant stage in his career, as he is close to being considered for Real Madrid’s first team, following the admiration shown by Portuguese coach José Mourinho for his abilities and his performance with the “Castilla” team.
Mourinho had previously confirmed that Petarash has proven his worth to be part of the first-team squad, noting that he will get his chance with the senior team once he reaches the required level of readiness. However, he also urged him to work on his physical side, strengthen his leg muscles, and increase his muscle mass.
These developments offer the Moroccan national team an opportunity to move early toward a talent playing for one of Europe’s biggest clubs, especially since Petarash has not yet made a final decision regarding his senior national team choice, despite his previous ties with the Spanish age-group national teams.
Ouahbi’s move reflects a trend to attract talents of Moroccan origin playing in major European clubs, with the aim of broadening the selection pool for the national team, particularly as young players emerge who could form part of the future of the “Atlas Lions.”
