Moroccan-Dutch midfielder Mohamed Ihattaren has chosen the Netherlands' national team over the Morocco one, BBC said Sunday.
On his social media, the PSV Eindhoven player wrote that he «decided [he was] Dutch from today», dashing the Moroccan offer.
Ihattaren’s decision was confirmd later by the Dutch federation (KNVB), posting on its website a photo of the player «posing with a Dutch jersey alongside national coach Ronald Koeman».
«I thought about it for a long time, I also consulted a lot with my family», Ihattaren said. «In the end we decided to opt for the Dutch national team. The Dutch federation did a lot for me in representing the youth teams. I went through everything there and that makes it difficult to leave», he told KNVB.
Meanwhile, Dutch national coach Ronald Koeman said that Ihattaren is «undergoing a great development and is now playing in PSV first team», adding that «he’s the kind of talent [he] wants to retain for Dutch football and luckily he has chosen the Oranje».
Earlier this year, Mohamed Ihattaren was summoned by the Atlas Lions’ new manager Vahid Halilhodzic before receiving an offer from the Dutch junior team.