Ajax Amsterdam forward, Anwar El Ghazi has revealed the role FIFA World Player of the Year, Cristiano Ronaldo played in his decision to choose the Netherlands ahead of Morocco as his country of allegiance.
The 20-year-old winger, who already has 7 goals for Ajax so far, said the Real Madrid man’s advice was the number one reason he chose to play for the Netherlands ahead of Morocco which is his father’s country of birth.
Speaking to the club’s website, El Ghazi said “I have thought about it for a long time. My parents, my family, my personal trainer and also Cristiano Ronaldo have advised me. I have included everything in my choice.”
“It came up with Ronaldo. He asked how I stood on the Netherlands. He said if he were me, he would opt for the Netherlands. He said I had to decide it myself and that people always have an opinion.
“Choose Netherlands and Moroccans will say I’m not a real Moroccan, opt for Morocco then the Dutch say ‘Hey, you’re born and raised here, what the hell is that?’ I’m going to do my best. I’m going to give everything for the country because I was born and raised here.”
To this end, El Ghazi, who already represented the Netherlands at youth level, has been included in Coach Danny Blind’s 28-man preliminary team to execute the 2016 Euro qualifier campaigns against Kazakhstan and Czech Republic in October.