Ayyoub Bouaddi Pilih Perkuat Timnas Maroko Ketimbang Prancis

Gelandang muda Lille OSC Ayyoub Bouaddi resmi memilih untuk memperkuat tim nasional Maroko di tingkat internasional setelah sempat menjadi rebutan dengan federasi sepak bola Prancis menjelang Piala Dunia 2026.

Keputusan pemain berusia 18 tahun tersebut diambil setelah melakukan pertimbangan matang serta pembicaraan langsung dengan legenda sepak bola Prancis, Zinedine Zidane, terkait kepastian masa depannya di tim ayam jantan.

Dilansir dari RMC Sport, jurnalis Daniel Riolo mengungkapkan bahwa Zidane yang diproyeksikan menggantikan Didier Deschamps sempat menghubungi Bouaddi secara terbuka mengenai posisinya di timnas Prancis.

"Zidane spoke to Bouaddi and told him: ‘I like you, but I can’t promise you anything’" kata Daniel Riolo.

"I admire you, but I cannot promise you anything." ujar Zinedine Zidane.

Pernyataan realistis dari Zidane tersebut memicu Bouaddi untuk memantapkan pilihannya membela Maroko, yang kemudian berujung pada debut mengesankan saat menahan imbang Brasil 1-1 di Stadion New York New Jersey.

Melalui akun media sosialnya, Bouaddi mengungkapkan kebahagiaan dan rasa bangganya dapat mewakili negara asal leluhurnya di turnamen terbesar dunia.

"Proud to represent Morocco in the world's biggest tournament. It is a dream come true, but also the start of a new chapter that requires more work and responsibility." kata Ayyoub Bouaddi.

"I also want to extend a word of appreciation to France. This choice does not diminish my pride in having worn the French youth national team jerseys. I will always be proud of my dual culture, my career, and my roots." tutur Ayyoub Bouaddi.

"I am aware of the privilege I have to defend these colours and I will give everything to best represent my country," ucap Ayyoub Bouaddi.

Penampilan Bouaddi di atas lapangan langsung menuai pujian dari rekan setimnya di Lille, Olivier Giroud, yang menyamakan kematangan sang pemain dengan Kylian Mbappe di usia muda.

"I played with Kylian Mbappe when he was 18," kata Olivier Giroud.

"He was so mature for his age and I have the same feeling with Ayyoub." ujar Olivier Giroud.

"He's a proper box-to-box player, but he needs to improve some things, like his finishing," tambah Olivier Giroud.

Dalam laga melawan Brasil, Bouaddi mencatatkan 87 sentuhan dan 60 operan sukses yang membuat kapten Maroko Achraf Hakimi menyebut performanya sebagai sebuah masterclass, bahkan penampilannya digenapi dengan memenangi sembilan duel fisik.

Mantan pelatih masa kecilnya di Creil, Sofiane Khair dan Armand Doue, mengaku sama sekali tidak terkejut dengan pembuktian bakat besar Bouaddi di panggung Piala Dunia.

"No one is shocked here," kata Sofiane Khair.

"For us, it's logical." ujar Sofiane Khair.

"Ayyoub didn't have a PlayStation or a Nintendo DS," tutur Sofiane Khair.

"He's the same now as he was when he was 10." ucap Sofiane Khair.

"He does this kind of match every weekend on the pitches of Ligue 1," kata Armand Doue.

Kedisplinan Bouaddi di luar lapangan juga diakui oleh mantan pelatih Lille U-17 Mickael Delestrez, yang mengenang karakter analitis sang pemain sejak usia 15 tahun.

"What do you expect from me?" tanya Ayyoub Bouaddi.

"His reflective nature leads to him constantly questioning his game - what could he have done better or what should he have done differently?" kata Mickael Delestrez.

"He possesses this analytical ability that allows him to continually challenge himself." ujar Mickael Delestrez.

Kini, Bouaddi yang memegang rekor pemain termuda Lille di Ligue 1 tengah bersiap menghadapi Skotlandia pada pertandingan lanjutan fase grup Piala Dunia bersama Maroko.