Samuel Umtiti on Bouaddi Choosing Morocco: “It Was a Decision From the Heart”

Rabat – Former France international Samuel Umtiti has said Ayoub Bouaddi’s decision to represent Morocco instead of France was a personal choice and one that should be respected.

Speaking to French radio station RMC, the former Barcelona defender dismissed suggestions that the French Football Federation was responsible for losing the highly rated midfielder.

“I am convinced that this has nothing to do with the French Football Federation. The player is the one who must make the decision, and this choice comes from the heart above all,” Umtiti said.

The 2018 World Cup winner revealed that Bouaddi’s decision did not surprise him because he knows the player personally from their time together at Lille.

“Since I know Ayoub personally, his decision did not surprise me. I truly believe the heart spoke. He came through France’s youth teams, and that is not a problem for me,” he explained.

Umtiti stressed that choosing a senior national team is ultimately about emotions and identity rather than sporting considerations.

“When it comes to moving to the senior team, the decision has to be based on feelings and on the national team the player wants to defend. Even if the French federation had called him and told him that they were counting on him, nothing would have changed if his heart leaned more toward Morocco,” he added.

The former Lyon center-back concluded by insisting that Bouaddi alone made the decision and that it should be respected.

“I don’t think the French Football Federation made any mistakes. Ayoub made his choice, and it is a decision from the heart that must be respected,” Umtiti said.

Bouaddi has emerged as one of Morocco’s standout performers at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, helping the Atlas Lions collect four points from their opening two Group C matches.