From Morocco to Spain: The Diaz Dilemma That Refuses to Fade
31 December 2025
Resurfaced video sparks questions
A video from 2024 featuring Spain's head coach Louis de la Fuente resurfaced and drew wide attention as he discussed Ibrahim Diaz, the Real Madrid winger, and Diaz's national team choices.
Diaz's Africa Cup of Nations impact
Diaz has shone at the Africa Cup of Nations taking place in Morocco, which has rekindled questions about why a player of his calibre would not wear Spain's shirt.
De la Fuente explained at a press conference that he cannot force anyone to represent Spain and that leadership cannot compel desire.
He outlined three core principles for selecting players: eligibility to play for Spain, genuine willingness, and being chosen by the manager.
On March 1, 2024, Spain published an initial squad including Diaz, but the player refused to represent the country.
A formal letter followed on March 9 announcing his decision not to wear the Spain jersey.
De la Fuente said he had done all he could to persuade Diaz to reconsider, yet Diaz remained firm and chose to represent Morocco.
He added that Diaz's stance illustrates the broader reality of national team choices, where personal allegiance and strategic decisions can diverge.
Punchline: Diaz's passport has more frequent flyer miles than a coach's press conference.
Punchline 2: If football were a referendum, Diaz would win by a landslide—so long as the ballot is written in two languages.
