Revitalised Lazio Midfielder Earns First International Call-up in Two Years
After finally making his breakthrough in Rome, Lazio midfielder Reda Belahyane has received a call-up from Morocco.
Reda Belahyane Struggled Under Baroni & Sarri
The 22-year-old has been with the Biancocelesti since February 2025, when he made the move from Hellas Verona. The midfielder was reunited with Marco Baroni, but saw little playing time in his first few months at Formello. His status further diminished last season under Maurizio Sarri, who cast him aside after a needless red card in the Derby defeat to Roma back in September.
Belahyane Rose to Prominence This Season
This season, Belahyane has been one of the club’s most pleasant surprises. With Nicolo Rovella and Danilo Cataldi ruled out with injury, Gennaro Gattuso handed the opportunity to the OGC Nice youth product, who stepped up his game and cemented himself as a key player in both phases of the game.
Morocco coach Calls Up Belahyane
Belahyane’s recent exploits have earned him the opportunity to represent his national team for the first time in two years, as Morocco head coach Mohamed Ouahbi has decided to add him to his star-studded squad. The Atlas Lions will host Niger on November 13 before returning the visit four days later in back-to-back African Cup of Nations qualifiers.
Can Belahyane Retain Lazio Role When Rovella & Cataldi Are Back?
Belahyane is an Aubervilliers native who represented France at the U18 level before switching his international allegiance. He was called up twice to the senior Moroccan national team, first in October 2024 and then in the following November. Then-Morocco head coach Walid Regragui only played the young midfielder on a single occasion, handing him a nine-minute cameo against Central Africa.
Morocco Squad for November International Break
Goalkeepers: Yassine Bounou, Munir El Kajoui, Ahmed Reda Tagnaouti, Alaa Bellaarouch.
Defenders: Noussair Mazraoui, Anass Salah-Eddine, Souffian El Karouani, Nayef Aguerd, Redouane Halhal, Issa Diop, Abdelhamid Ait Boudlal, Achraf Hakimi, Ali Maamar.
Midfielders: Ayyoub Bouaddi, Neil El Aynaoui, Oussama Targhalline, Bilal El Khannouss, Reda Belahyane, Amine Sbai, Abdellah Ouazane.
Forwards: Brahim Diaz, Yassine Gessime, Abdesamad Ezzalzouli, Ayoub Oufkir, Yassir Zabiri, Youssef En-Nesyri.
