Former Morocco captain Mehdi Benatia said the national team’s recent success is the result of years of investment in youth development rather than chance, highlighting the role of the Mohammed VI Football Academy in producing a new generation of elite players.
Speaking to Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport, Benatia said Morocco’s current squad is the product of a long-term project led by the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, with the academy playing a central role in developing players from a young age.
“There is a talented generation, but more importantly, there is a system dedicated to developing players,” Benatia said. “The Mohammed VI Academy was a major turning point. It is a world-class facility that focuses not only on developing footballers but also on shaping their character.”
Benatia credited the academy with helping produce several of Morocco’s current internationals, including Azzedine Ounahi, Nayef Aguerd and Youssef En-Nesyri.
He added that Morocco continues to produce promising talent, singling out Ayyoub Bouaddi as “a major prospect” and praising young defender Abdellah Aït Boudlal.
Benatia said Morocco’s strength lies in combining technical quality with defensive discipline but stressed that the team must become more clinical in front of goal, particularly in high-profile matches where missed chances can prove decisive.
The former defender also praised Achraf Hakimi, describing him as one of the greatest right-backs in football history.
“He is producing extraordinary attacking numbers compared to legendary players in the position such as Cafu and Maicon,” Benatia said.
He acknowledged that Brahim Díaz is not currently enjoying his best spell but said the midfielder retains exceptional qualities, citing his vision and ability to change the rhythm of matches.
Discussing the depth of Morocco’s squad, Benatia said substitutes do not always match the level of the starting lineup, which he described as natural, but emphasized that the team has enough quality throughout the squad to make an impact when changes are needed.
He reserved particular praise for Bouaddi, calling him an exceptional talent with maturity beyond his years and suggesting his market value could eventually reach €100 million. Benatia added that such a valuation would likely make a move to Italy financially unrealistic.
The former defender also expressed surprise over the limited playing time given to Neil El Aynaoui at AS Roma, revealing that he had previously tried to sign the midfielder while serving in a management role at Olympique de Marseille, although the transfer ultimately failed for financial reasons.
Looking ahead, Benatia said he expects Morocco to make another deep run at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, while acknowledging that success in tournament football often depends on small details.
He also criticized the expanded World Cup format, arguing that the increased number of matches reduces the significance of some fixtures, and called for football to become more accessible by lowering ticket prices.
Benatia concluded by expressing confidence that the new leadership at Juventus FC can restore the club to the top of Italian football, praising the experience of Giorgio Chiellini and Giovanni Carnevali.
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