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Real Madrid star Brahim Diaz made his debut for the Moroccan national team on Friday, in a friendly held at the Agadir Grand Stadium.
Following the game, which ended in a narrow 1-0 victory against Angola, Diaz took to social media to celebrate the occasion. He posted a photo on his Instagram account wearing the Moroccan national football jersey with the caption: «Happy with my first match with the national team! Thank you for your support. Thank you Agadir!»
Brahim’s foot was bloodied from repeated tackles by the Angolan defenders ? pic.twitter.com/NAGY8V6RsR
— 532off (@532off) March 23, 2024
He also shared a photo on his Instagram Story with Morocco winger Achraf Hakimi, captioned «My brother Ashraf Hakimi». In the photo, Brahim had a bloodied foot.
Diaz expresses gratitude
«I'm very happy and it was a very special day», Diaz told Spanish newspaper Marca after the game. «I received a lot of love. I'm proud because I felt very good on the pitch and it was a very good start. My teammates looked for me a lot, they passed me the ball and I'm happy because I felt the love».
He added that his family members who followed the game from the stadium «were very excited. It's nice to receive this love and now I have to work for the future of this national team».
«I thank His Majesty King Mohammed VI», Diaz said. «I am very grateful for everything he does for football and for the support he always gives to the country», he acknowledged.
On the possibility of participating in the next Olympic Games with the Moroccan national team, he said, «I will try to be in everything I can and... whatever they let me do as well. At the end of the day, I'm a Real Madrid player and I want to give my best for the club and the national team. Anything I can contribute on the pitch; I'll be happy to do».
Spanish media reaction
Commenting on Diaz’ Atlas Lions debut, Mondo Deportivo wrote that «in the 45,000-capacity stadium in Agadir, the Real Madrid striker won the applause of the crowd with his dribbling and two shots on goal from free kicks, in the 58th and 83rd minutes».
«Brahim not only started, he was also one of his team's heroes», Sport signaled.
«Wearing number '10' on his back, Diaz lifted the spirits of fans every time he touched the ball on the field», El Confidencial commented.
The newspaper lamented that Diaz did not play for the Spanish national team, writing, «He could have also played for Spain, but Luis de la Fuente did not even call him to show interest».
«Diaz made his debut for Morocco and did so in the best possible way. Regragui relied on him and from the first moment he looked bold and eager to shine. With the freedom that the presence of Amrabat and Ounahi a few meters away gave him, he was able to play vertically in the playmaker's position and only lacked some precision to be decisive», El Confidencial wrote.
