Younes Ebnoutalib has revealed what ultimately tipped the scales in one of the biggest decisions of his young career, choosing to pursue his international future with Germany rather than Morocco.
The Eintracht Frankfurt forward was eligible to represent both nations through his heritage and had been in contact with the Moroccan Football Federation before Germany made its approach.
But one phone call changed everything.
‘When Klopp Calls, You Can’t Say No’
The 23-year-old explained that discussions with Morocco had taken place before Germany's interest became concrete.
- “There were talks with Morocco. But when Jürgen Klopp calls, you can’t say no,” he said.
The comment underlines the significance of the Germany coach's approach at a crucial moment in the forward's development.
For a player who had been competing in Germany's lower divisions only two years ago, the opportunity to join the senior national team represented a remarkable rise.
From the Regionalliga to Germany
The journey has been remarkably quick.
Just two years ago, the Frankfurt forward was playing for Regionalliga side FC Giessen. His move to Eintracht Frankfurt opened the door to a much higher level of competition and provided the platform for his development to accelerate.
His performances at the Bundesliga club have now brought him into the Germany setup, with four goals at the beginning of the current season helping attract attention from the national team.
What once seemed like a distant possibility has suddenly become reality.
The Call He Did Not Expect
When Klopp first contacted him, the player admitted that he did not immediately understand the significance of the call.
- “I didn’t think anything of it. I thought maybe he just wanted to ask how I was doing,” he recalled.
The true meaning of the conversation soon became clear.
For someone who had been playing in the lower divisions only a short time earlier, receiving a call from the Germany head coach represented a powerful reminder of how quickly his career had changed.
An Emotional Moment
The significance of the opportunity became even more apparent after the conversation ended.
- “After the phone call, tears came to my eyes. I thought about where I was just a few years ago and that it’s crazy that all the hard work has paid off,” he said.
The moment captured the extraordinary speed of his rise, from regional football to one of Germany's biggest clubs and now the senior national team.
It is a journey shaped by persistence, opportunity and a breakthrough at exactly the right moment.
First Impressions of Klopp
The young forward has also spoken positively about his first interactions with the Germany coach.
- “The impression is very positive. He is, of course, someone who brings a great deal of experience and already has a certain presence because of what he has achieved over the years,” he explained.
At the same time, he described Klopp as approachable away from the intensity associated with his position.
- “But he was very nice and very likeable in the conversations,” he added.
That relationship could now become an important part of the next stage of his international development.
A New International Chapter
The Frankfurt forward has now joined Germany's senior squad, with the possibility of making his international debut for the four-time world champions.
For Morocco, his decision closes the door, at least for now, on the possibility of seeing him represent the Atlas Lions.
For the player himself, however, the focus is now on making the most of an opportunity that arrived after an extraordinary rise through German football.
For Morocco, Ebnoutalib’s decision closes one chapter, but it does not change the bigger picture. The Atlas Lions’ story is built on generations of players, a deep football culture and a national identity that extends far beyond any individual choice.