Sports
OFFICIAL: Hakim Ziyech Set To Retire from International Football
Chelsea’s winger, Hakim Ziyech has announced his retirement from the Moroccan National team.
Ziyech made this known while speaking with a journalist at Abu Dhabi where he is with his teammates preparing for their semi-final game at the FIFA Club World Cup. The North African has been at loggerheads with the head coach of Morocco since the FIFA World Cup qualifying game.
Obviously, I understand them (the fans) but I am not returning to the national team, it is my final decision. It is clear to me how things are going on over there and I am focused on what I am doing and right now that is my club. At the end of the day, it is a decision (Halilhdozic) makes and you have to respect it. If all the lying comes with it, it’s for me clear. Like I said before, I will not return to the national team. I feel sorry for the fans but that’s the situation right now.
Ziyech was not part of the Morocco team that played at the just concluded Africa Cup of Nations that was hosted in Cameroon. The team’s coach, Halilhdozic has also said in the past that the Chelsea player will not be selected for the team even if his name was Lionel Messi.
WATCH:
🚨🇲🇦 Hakim Ziyech annonce sa retraite internationale :
« Je ne reviendrais pas en sélection. C’est ma décision finale. C’est clair pour moi. Je me concentre sur mon club maintenant. Je comprends la décision des supporters, je suis désolé pour eux. »
— Hanif Ben Berkane (@HanifBerkane) February 8, 2022