Agent Confirms Player's Interest in Switching Nationality

The agent of Mahmoud Bentayek, a defender for Zamalek and the Moroccan national team, has acknowledged that the player is contemplating a change of sports nationality to represent Egypt on international platforms. This revelation has raised questions about the legal implications of such a shift at this stage in Bentayek's career.

Bentayek's name has been a topic of heated debate in recent days, following reports from Egyptian media suggesting his desire to play for the Egyptian national team instead of Morocco. While Moroccan reports initially dismissed these claims, Bentayek's agent, Youssef Msaad, has come forward to confirm the player's interest in this potential transition.

Msaad expressed his surprise at the Moroccan national team coach, Mohamed Wahbi, overlooking Bentayek after the player's name was notably absent from the latest squad list. He revealed that some officials in Egypt have encouraged Bentayek to consider representing the Egyptian national team, a move that the player is currently contemplating, especially after previously prioritizing his commitment to Morocco.

According to media reports, Bentayek has begun to take steps towards this transition, having reached out to FIFA for clarification on the possibility of changing his sports nationality, and is now awaiting their response.

Legal Expert Outlines Requirements for Nationality Change

Legal expert Ralph Sharbel from Lebanon elaborated on the conditions set by FIFA for a player wishing to change their national eligibility. He stated that for a player to participate with a national team other than their country of origin—provided they have never played for their home country at any level—they must obtain citizenship of the new national team and meet at least one of the following conditions:

  • The player must have been born in the country in question.
  • One of the player's parents must have been born in the country in question.
  • One of the player's grandparents must have been born in the country in question.
  • The player must have resided in the country for at least three years if they began living there before the age of ten, or for at least five years if they started living there after turning ten.

Regarding Bentayek's situation, it is known that he was born in Casablanca to Moroccan parents and is currently married to an Egyptian woman, the daughter of Ahmed Soliman, a board member of Zamalek. The 26-year-old has been living in Egypt since joining Zamalek from Saint-Étienne in the summer of 2024, marking approximately two years of residency.

Sharbel further noted that even if Bentayek meets the aforementioned conditions, for him to be eligible to play for Egypt, he must not have participated in more than three matches with the Moroccan national team, and at least three years must have passed since his last appearance with the Atlas Lions.

Bentayek has not represented Morocco at junior or youth levels but participated in the senior national team during the 2025 Arab Cup held in Qatar last year. He played four international matches for Morocco during the tournament, all as a substitute, against teams such as Saudi Arabia, Syria, the UAE, and Jordan, contributing to his team's victory in each instance. However, he was also on the bench during the first two matches against Comoros and Oman, which resulted in draws.

During his tenure, Bentayek contributed to Morocco winning the Arab Cup under coach Tarek Skitwi, who currently manages the Omani national team. Sharbel pointed out that since 2021, FIFA has recognized the Arab Cup as an official tournament under its jurisdiction, which adds an official status to Bentayek's participation, even if Morocco fielded a second-string squad devoid of European-based professionals.

According to the available data, it seems that changing Bentayek's sports nationality at this time would be a challenging endeavor. However, the international lawyer emphasized that he cannot definitively rule out FIFA's approval of Bentayek's request, as there may be legal arguments that the player could present to support his case.

As reported by kooora.com.