Brahim Diaz, who suffered an injury to the long adductor muscle in his right leg during Real Madrid’s victory over Real Sociedad last Saturday, will be sidelined for around three months.
“After the tests carried out today on our player Brahim Díaz by the Real Madrid Medical Services, he has been diagnosed with an injury to the long adductor of his right leg. His evolution remains to be followed,” Real Madrid announced on its official website on Sunday.
Brahim will miss important matches such as the derby against Atlético de Madrid on September 29 and the Clasico against Barcelona, scheduled for the last weekend of October at the Santiago Bernabéu stadium. In addition, he will be absent for the Atlas Lions’ next outings against the Central African Republic in October and against Gabon and Lesotho in November.
Walid Regragui, coach of the national team, must find a replacement for Merengue, who has quickly become an important element and one of the leaders of the Den since his arrival. He showed this by opening his account during the last gathering against Gabon (4-1) and Lesotho (1-0).
With the probable absence of Hakim Ziyech, also injured, for the two matches against the Central African Republic, who can seize the keys to the Red and Green truck?
Amine Harit
Not called up since the CAN 2024, notably due to the arrival of Brahim Díaz in the national team, Amine Harit has never fully convinced with the national team. In terms of statistics, his performances in the Lions jersey remain below his talent. Since his first call-up under the orders of Hervé Renard in October 2017, the attacking midfielder has played 24 matches for 1 goal and 4 assists.
“Concerning Amine Harit, the first to have confidence in him is me. There, I have a FIFA date, it’s the opportunity to do tests, to renew the group and to see other players. Amine also deserved to be with us. If he maintains his level, he will come back. As for Romain Saïss, it’s not a sanction. These are friendly matches,” explained Regragui last March, about the non-call-up of the Marseillais.
At the start of the season with OM, while he was announced as leaving, the 27-year-old Moroccan international has shown a completely different side during the first four days of the French championship. Harit has already delivered 3 assists and scored a goal. This start of the season could well open the doors of the selection to him again and allow him to prove himself once again.
Read also: Brahim Diaz’s moving message after his injury
Ismael Saibari
Having missed the Olympic Games with the Atlas Lions (PSV Eindhoven refused to release him, editor’s note), Ismael Saibari was injured in early August during the Johan Cruyff Shield final against Feyenoord (4-4, 4-5). This injury kept him off the pitch for the first four days of the Dutch championship, the Eredivisie.
But Saibari made his return on Matchday 5 against Nijmegen (2-0 victory), playing the last 20 minutes of the match. He should gradually regain his starting place in the PSV eleven, just before the next gathering of the Atlas Lions, scheduled between October 7 and 15, as part of the 3rd and 4th days of the CAN 2025 qualifiers. The Lion has a few weeks ahead of him to prove himself, with five matches to play between the Eredivisie and the Champions League, in order to find his rhythm and regain the confidence of Walid Regragui.
Couhaib Driouech
Convincing since his arrival at PSV Eindhoven during the last summer transfer window from Excelsior, the young 22-year-old striker has had a very good start to the season. With already 4 matches played in the championship, Couhaib has scored 2 goals and provided 1 assist. Never before called up to the Atlas Lions A, Couhaib Driouech has nevertheless had several selections with the U23s under the direction of Issam Charai, playing 9 matches. He also participated in the U23 CAN, won by the Atlas Lions against the Egyptians.
Osame Sahraoui
Summoned by Norway during the last international break, the young LOSC star declined the call and chose to represent his father’s country, Morocco. Waiting for a first call-up with the Atlas Lions, Sahraoui has had an excellent start to the season with Lille, whom he joined during the last summer transfer window from Heerenveen on a five-year contract.
At the September press conference, Walid Regragui spoke about the 23-year-old player and his refusal of the Norwegian call-up: “He is a player with a lot of room for improvement, I appreciated that he refused Norway for Morocco… I told him that there would be a lot of competition for his position. He replied that he would fight to get his place.”
Since the start of the season, Osame Sahraoui has already played 294 minutes in 8 matches for LOSC, including 4 in Ligue 1 and 4 during the Champions League qualifiers. He could well have his chance to experience his first call-up with the Atlas Lions.
Read also: Aguerd, Ounahi, Abde Ez, Diaz… The barometer of the Lions abroad
Eliesse Ben Seghir
Having become a regular in the gatherings with the Atlas Lions, Eliesse Ben Seghir, although often used as a winger, could be considered as an option for Walid Regragui during the next international break. Trained as an attacking midfielder (number 10), Ben Seghir, at only 19 years old, still has a lot of room for improvement in this role of playmaker. His profile as a talented dribbler, excellent with the ball at his feet and adept at duels, makes him an interesting alternative for Regragui.
Used by the Moroccan U23 selection, Tarik Sektioui during the Olympic Games against Spain in the semi-final (0-1), Ben Seghir showed mixed performances. However, this does not prevent him from deserving a new chance to find his bearings in a more central position, with the first team.
Thus, following the injury of the number 21 from Madrid, a golden opportunity will be offered to one of the Lions within the Moroccan selection. Once again, the misfortune of some will be the happiness of others.
By Anas Zabari
09/18/2024 at 10:45 a.m.
