The attacking midfielder has been labelled undisciplined by his nation’s head coach.
Chelsea star Hakim Ziyech has no chance of returning to the Morocco men’s national team – not even if his name was Lionel Messi – according to head coach Vahid Halilhodzic.
The manager has faced questions about Ziyech’s exclusion from the Africa Cup of Nations, where Morocco lost in the quarter-final to Egypt.
But Halilhodzic maintained that Ziyech’s behaviour on national team duty “does not fit the selection”.
What has been said?
“The players I have selected are the best in the country,” Halilhodzic told reporters.
“I don’t select a player who can unbalance the group. Not even if his name is Lionel Messi. Ziyech’s behaviour does not fit the selection. He doesn’t want to train, doesn’t want to play. He doesn’t take it seriously. I’m not going to beg him to come back.
“After the [Afcon] tournament three years ago, he was the most criticised. He was booed. You mustn’t forget that.”
Source: goal.com