“They showed me love” – Brahim Diaz opens up on choosing Morocco over Spain | OneFootball

In recent days, there has been a lot of noise surrounding Spain national team’s alleged favouritism towards Barcelona players.

The matter was exacerbated following the selection of Barcelona’s teenage duo Pau Cubarsi and Lamine Yamal, in the Spanish senior team for the upcoming international break.

While both the youngsters, aged 17 and 16 respectively, were given the opportunity to play for the Spanish national team, La Roja did not offer a chance to Real Madrid starlet Brahim Diaz since his debut in 2021.

This eventually led to Diaz opting to play for Morocco, ending speculation over his potential future with the Spanish national team.

Diaz on choosing Morocco over Spain

A week after making the decision, Brahim finally spoke at length about the situation and how he chose Morocco over Spain.

“I had to decide and for a long time, they showed me love. I have roots in Morocco and now I have to show it on the field and return that trust,” Diaz told Esquire.

However, the former Man City starlet did offer his gratitude towards Spanish fans who wanted him to represent La Roja.

“I am very grateful to them too. This doesn’t change anything. I have worn the national team shirt and I want them to do as well as possible. I have noticed a lot of affection from people and I respect opinions,” he said.

Diaz on his Real Madrid career

Apart from his national team allegiances, Brahim Diaz also spoke at length about joining Real Madrid and the pressure of performing at the Bernabeu.

“I already said it at the time, in my presentation: there were more offers but I don’t remember any of them because in my head I only had three options: Madrid, Madrid and Madrid. That was always my goal,” he revealed.

Brahim Diaz is grateful towards Real Madrid (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)

Talking about survival at Real Madrid, the youngster added, “When you are already at a level where you see yourself close to being a professional player, you obviously feel that pressure to say ‘I’m close’, but you have to be patient because the time may not come.”

“At Real Madrid, there is pressure to win every game, to win titles, to prove every day that you deserve to be here.

“Real Madrid is very demanding, but in that case, I like it and I am grateful for that pressure. This is what it means to be in the best club in the world.

Further continuing, the 24-year-old added: “Obviously, at times I have had anguish and stress, like everyone in life. But the important thing is to have a good head, be humble and learn from people with more experience than you.

“Football is still a sport that I love and adore and it is my passion, so it doesn’t have to be a pressure.”

Brahim has become a handy first-team option for Real Madrid this season, often appearing as a difference-maker in the final third. But it wasn’t always like that. The youngster had to prove himself at AC Milan before earning his place at Real Madrid.

Comparing his Milan stint to his current role at Real Madrid, Brahim said, “They are two different moments. I was younger and, although I obviously came from a big club, I had less experience.“

“But in the end, all the work has its reward and that is what has happened to me. I returned to Real Madrid more mature, with more experience, but with the same desire to win great things,” he added.

Brahim is exceeding expectations at Real Madrid. (Photo by ODD ANDERSEN/AFP via Getty Images)

Talking about his return to Santiago Bernabeu last summer, Brahim said he didn’t have too many expectations.

“I didn’t imagine anything, honestly. In Milan, I was very comfortable. We achieved great things and the truth is that I am very grateful to the club, I always say that.

“As for Real Madrid, I had no expectations because in the end it is the best club in the world and you have to perform day by day,” he said.

“I don’t know if I’m overcoming them or not, but the truth is that it’s been a very good season on my part and on the part of all the players,” he added.

“And we have to keep going like this, keep scoring goals, adding assists and winning titles, which in the end is the most important thing in this big club.”

Finally, Brahim Diaz was asked about his goal celebrations and he feels after realising his dream of performing at Real Madrid.

“I come from a humble family and wanted to do good things and I also wanted to do big things, obviously. I am very proud of where I come from and where I am right now, but always with humility ahead, which is something fundamental in my family and in me,” the forward said.

“The celebration has to do with all this. It comes from when I played with my sisters, playing cards for example, and when everything seems difficult, in the end, you arrive and win.

“They always think that they are going to beat me in games and at the end they end up losing and that’s where that gesture comes from,” he concluded.

Brahim Diaz will now look to gear up and make his debut for the Moroccan national team over the coming weekend as they take on Angola, in an international friendly.

Source: Mundo Deportivo