Jürgen Klopp made the trip himself. On September 2, 2026, Germany’s head coach visited Eintracht Frankfurt’s training ground for a long conversation with 22-year-old Younes Ebnoutalib — a rare move that says a lot about the stakes.
Born in Frankfurt to a German mother and a Moroccan father, the striker is eligible for both countries. Klopp wants him to pick Germany, drawn to his 1.91m frame and back-to-goal game.
The interest also stems from current form: a stunning hat-trick on the opening day of the Bundesliga season, in a wild 3-3 draw against Union Berlin in Berlin. That has sped up the race between the two federations.
Morocco isn’t out of it, though. Ebnoutalib played for Morocco’s U15s in 2018 and has since shown an affinity for the Atlas Lions — even posting a photo of boots in Morocco’s colours.
One thing works against Morocco: Ebnoutalib’s classic No. 9 profile doesn’t fit the false-nine system coach Mohamed Ouahbi has installed, an argument Germany’s camp is quick to point out. The Mannschaft, for its part, wants exactly that kind of target man.
The player himself says he hasn’t decided anything yet. His choice will likely hinge less on arguments than on two increasingly close visits — Klopp’s, and the one Morocco will now have to arrange of its own.
