Albert Luque Sparks Controversy for Derogatory Remarks on Diaz, African Football
Luque made his negative claims in a recent interview with Cadena SER radio program El Larguero.
Belittling Africa's power
The comments belittled the quality and development of football in Africa, ignoring the continent's contribution to the global football scene. Talented African athletes regularly play for top clubs in prestigious competitions like La Liga, the Champions League and other outstanding leagues, with many other clubs from across Europe embracing African players to strengthen their squads.
In the interview, he specifically commented on Real Madrid star Brahim Diaz' decision to represent Morocco over Spain.
'Did it hurt him? I think it hurt him the most not to lift the European Championship. It is not the same to play with Italy as with Kenya,' he claimed.
His remarks come amid celebrations for Diaz' outstanding performances with Real Madrid. International media has been commending the Atlas Lion's play with the Los Blancos, contributing to the club's triumphs across La Liga games.
In denial, Luque also went on to ignore recent remarks made by international football giants, commending Diaz' appearances with Real Madrid as well as his contributions to Morocco's AFCON qualifier games, in which he scored six goals.
Claims on Yamal's choice
Turning the conversation to other players of Moroccan origin, Luque also suggested he had a conversation with the father of FC Barcelona player Lamine Yamal.
He claimed that the football player's father said that Lamine Yamal faced threats for his choice to represent Spain over Morocco. 'And when we spoke to [Lamine Yamal] him he told me: 'I want to be European champion, they are pressuring me from all sides but I want to play with Spain'. This was before he debuted,' Luque said.
'The father was more complicated. He told me that in Morocco they were going to kill him. He told me some things that it is better not to talk about. His mother is the person Lamine has to lean on the most. She asked me if I wanted him to be with Spain and I lied to her, I told her that it was because he was very prepared and not because of [the threat from] Morocco,' he further claimed.
Morocco has been subject to similar rumors from Spanish media as there has been a rise in football players choosing to represent the national team over Spain and other countries, which has struck a nerve among many.
When Morocco approached Lamine to convince him to join the Atlas Lions, Spanish media alleged that the North African country put financial pressure on the FC Barcelona star.
In October 2023, President of Morocco's Football Federation (FRMF) addressed the controversy and rumors, describing them as poor and unfounded.
'I challenge any Moroccan player to confirm that we exerted pressure or engaged in bargaining with them in one way or another. I reflect the opposite and say that it is an honor for any player to wear the national jersey,' Lekjaa said in an interview with Al Sharq.
Spanish outlet AS also contributed to spreading the claims that Morocco was exerting pressure on Yamal to choose Morocco over Spain.
'The pressure from Morocco on the player has not stopped, and the North African Federation even presented him with a financial offer, which the footballer declined, in order to persuade him to play under Regragui, before the Spanish youth teams' coordinator visited him in Barcelona,' AS claimed.
A troubled past of his own
In addition to his career on the field, Albert Luque served as Spain's former men's national team director but was sacked in 2024 as part of the fallout from a scandal in which former president Luis Rubiale unconsensually kissed Spanish footballer Jenifer Hermoso.
Luque was suspended on the grounds of being accused of coercion due to his involvement in the corruption investigation.
Reports in 2023 revealed alleged WhatsApp messages that Luque sent to a close friend of Hermoso during the fallout.
'She deserves nothing due to her baseness and her lack of empathy and humanity with Rubiales,' the messages reportedly read . Tags: African footballBrahim Diazlamine yamal
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