after consulting Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo.
Ajax forward Anwar El Ghazi said Real Madrid star Cristiano
Ronaldo advised him to play for Netherlands and not Morocco.
El Ghazi was named in Danny Blind's preliminary 28-man
Netherlands squad for October's UEFA Euro 2016 qualifiers
against Kazakhstan and the Czech Republic.
The 20-year-old, who has scored seven goals for Ajax this
season, was eligible to represent Morocco, where his parents
hail from, and he was contemplating pledging his international
allegiance to the North African nation.
However, El Ghazi was persuaded by Portugal captain and two-
time Ballon d'Or winner Ronaldo to opt for Netherlands, who he
has represented at youth level.
"I have thought about it for a long time. My parents, my family,
my personal trainer and also Cristiano Ronaldo have advised
me. I have included everything in my choice," El Ghazi told
Ajax's official website.
"It came up with Ronaldo. He asked how I stood on the
Netherlands. He said if he were me, he would opt for the
Netherlands. He said I had to decide it myself and that people
always have an opinion.
"Choose Netherlands and Moroccans will say I'm not a real
Moroccan, opt for Morocco then the Dutch say 'Hey, you're
born and raised here, what the hell is that?'"
El Ghazi added: "I'm going to do my best. I'm going to give
everything for the country because I was born and raised here."
Netherlands face Kazakhstan in Group A action on October 10
before tackling the already-qualified Czech Republic three days
later.
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