Ebnoutalib says Klopp call swayed him to pick Germany over Morocco

The Eintracht Frankfurt striker said a phone call from the new Germany coach settled his international future as the Nations League opener against the Netherlands approaches.

Eintracht Frankfurt forward Younes Ebnoutalib has revealed that Germany's new head coach Jürgen Klopp played a decisive role in his decision to represent Germany rather than Morocco. Speaking ahead of Germany's Nations League fixture against the Netherlands, the 23-year-old described the moment Klopp reached out to him.

"When Klopp calls you, you have to go to him," Ebnoutalib said, adding that Klopp ranks among the world's best coaches and that the squad already feels a positive energy under him. The striker had held talks with Morocco coach Mohamed Ouahbi before making his choice.

Ebnoutalib emphasized that both nations remain close to his heart. "I love both countries, they are both my countries of origin, and I will definitely continue to keep my fingers crossed for Morocco," he said.

Klopp, who replaced Julian Nagelsmann after Germany's round-of-32 exit at the summer World Cup, has already laid out his expectations. Ebnoutalib said the coach wants players to take pride in representing Germany and to keep fighting even when results are not going their way.

Named in the first group of Klopp's two-part squad for the matches against the Netherlands on Thursday and Greece on Sunday, Ebnoutalib is one of only two traditional strikers in that group alongside Kai Havertz and could make his senior debut. He said he knows nothing yet about his chances but hopes to earn playing time. He has four goals in four Bundesliga appearances for Frankfurt this season.