An African nation has now issued a statement after reports of an international tug-of-war over Spanish wonderkid Lamine Yamal emerged on Tuesday.
The Royal Moroccan Football Federation has insisted it is not trying to convince the Barcelona prodigy to represent its national team ahead of the next Africa Cup of Nations.
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This comes after Spanish news outlet AS reported that the African nation was trying to persuade the 16-year-old, who has a Moroccan father, to represent their national side before he makes three appearances for Spain, which would make him ineligible to switch his allegiances.
"The League confirms that The Royal Moroccan Football Federation says that what is stated in this article is false and not based on any evidence, especially since it respected the choices of the player Lamine Yamal, like other Moroccan players of Moroccan origins who chose other teams," a statement on the organisation's official website read.
The federation also denied trying to "entice him financially".
The starlet has become a key man in Xavi's plans for the Catalans' attack and has made a big impression this season, leading to him receiving an international call-up and making his first appearance for La Furia Roja during the international break last month.
According to FIFA regulations, players are only allowed to switch national allegiances if they are under 21 years old, or if they have made less than three international appearances for a country, among other factors.
The 16-year-old has made 11 appearances for Barcelona already this season, and netted his first goal for the club in a 2-2 draw with Granada over the weekend, making him the youngest ever LALIGA goalscorer in the process.
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Yamal's 74th minute strike on his international debut in a 7-1 thumping of Georgia also saw him become Spain's youngest ever goalscorer in what has been a scintillating start to his career.
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