Lamine Yamal's father threatened him over Spain choice, says former director

Albert Luque, former sporting director of the Spanish national team, has revealed disturbing details about the pressure Lamine Yamal and his family faced before the young Barcelona star chose to represent Spain over Morocco.

Speaking on Cadena SER’s El Larguero, Luque said that Yamal's father expressed extreme anger over his son’s decision, even going as far as telling Luque that he would “kill his son in Morocco” due to the backlash they were receiving.

“It was not an easy case,” Luque explained. “Morocco's national team coach came in person to try and convince Lamine. But when I spoke with him, he told me: ‘I want to be European champion. I’m being pressured from all sides, but I want to play for Spain.’”

Luque added that Lamine’s father was far more resistant to the idea: “He told me that if they went to Morocco, he’d be killed. He told me some things that are better left unsaid.”

Born in Mataró to a Moroccan father and an Equatorial Guinean mother, Yamal was eligible to play for multiple national teams. Ultimately, he made his Spain debut at just 16, becoming their youngest-ever player and goalscorer. He later helped Spain win Euro 2024 in Germany.

Luque also admitted that Spain rushed to secure Yamal early with three competitive appearances to lock in his eligibility under FIFA rules: “I told his mother it was because he was ready, but in reality, it was also to avoid losing him to Morocco.”

The former director compared Yamal’s case to that of Brahim Diaz, who after playing briefly for Spain, chose to switch to Morocco in 2024. Luque reflected: “Maybe I was wrong not to treat Brahim the same way. But time will tell.”

Lamine Yamal continues to make history with Barcelona, reaching the Champions League semi-finals this week, while Brahim Diaz is hoping for a miracle with Real Madrid in their quarter-final clash with Arsenal.