Amrabat Pauses Morocco Career, Hakimi And Bounou Lead Ballon d’Or Presence And Puertas Heads To Al Wasl

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From Sofyan Amrabat’s Morocco future to a strong Arab presence at the Ballon d’Or and Al Wasl’s latest midfield move, there’s plenty happening across regional sport. Amrabat has made himself unavailable while Mohamed Ouahbi remains Morocco head coach, Achraf Hakimi and Yassine Bounou lead the Arab names across the 2026 Ballon d’Or shortlists, and Cameron Puertas is close to joining Al Wasl on loan from Al Qadsiah.

Sofyan Amrabat Makes Himself Unavailable For Morocco

What Is It About
Sofyan Amrabat has made himself unavailable for Morocco while Mohamed Ouahbi remains head coach. In a statement shared on Instagram, Amrabat said representing Morocco has been the greatest honour of his career, but said he does not feel able to continue under the current coach.

Why It Matters
Amrabat chose to keep the reasons behind his decision private and stressed that he has not retired from international football. The timing is significant, with Morocco set to begin AFCON 2027 qualifying later this month.

What’s Next
For now, Amrabat’s Morocco future remains on hold. The midfielder has also just started a new club chapter with Ajax, while his national team return depends on how the situation develops under Ouahbi.

Hakimi And Bounou Lead Arab Ballon d’Or Shortlist Presence

What Is It About
Achraf Hakimi and Yassine Bounou lead the Arab presence across the 2026 Ballon d’Or awards shortlists. Hakimi is nominated for the Men’s Ballon d’Or, while Bounou is up for Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year after another standout year for Morocco and Al Hilal.

Why It Matters
They are joined by Ayyoub Bouaddi and Ibrahim Maza in the young talent category, while Sadio Mané, Julián Quiñones and Édouard Mendy also feature across major award lists through their performances for Saudi clubs and national teams.

What’s Next
The nominations give Arab football and the wider Middle East scene a strong showing at this year’s Ballon d’Or awards, with Moroccan stars and Saudi Pro League names represented across several categories.

Cameron Puertas Set For Al Wasl Loan Move

What Is It About
Cameron Puertas is set to leave Saudi Arabia for a new chapter in the UAE, with Al Qadsiah agreeing to loan the midfielder to Al Wasl. The two clubs have reached an agreement on the financial and contractual terms.

Why It Matters
The move comes after Al Qadsiah completed the necessary approvals, with manager Brendan Rodgers giving the green light for Puertas to depart. It gives Al Wasl another midfield option as they continue their ADNOC Pro League campaign.

What’s Next
The transfer is expected to be finalized in the coming hours, with only the final formalities remaining. Puertas now looks ready to begin a new experience in the UAE Pro League.

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