Younes Ebnoutalib says a personal call from Jurgen Klopp helped make his decision to represent Germany straightforward, after talks had also been held with Morocco. For the Eintracht Frankfurt forward, the contact from Klopp carried real weight.
The 23-year-old has been in sharp form this season, scoring four goals for Eintracht Frankfurt, and his rise has now been rewarded at international level. Germany are preparing for upcoming UEFA Nations League fixtures, including a clash against the Netherlands, and Ebnoutalib has been named in an experimental 44-man squad.
What makes the story stand out is how quickly his career has moved. Two years ago, Ebnoutalib was playing in the Regionalliga for FC Giessen. Now he is being discussed as part of Germany's attacking picture, with Klopp's intervention helping to tip the balance.
Why Klopp's call mattered
Ebnoutalib made clear that Morocco were part of the conversation, but he was equally clear about the effect Klopp had on his thinking. As he put it: “There were talks with Morocco. But when Jurgen Klopp calls, you can’t say no.”
That is a revealing line because it underlines both the pull of Germany and the respect Klopp still commands. Ebnoutalib said the conversation left him emotional, adding: “After the phone call, tears came to my eyes. I thought about where I was just a few years ago and that it's crazy that all the hard work has paid off.”
For a player who was in the Regionalliga for FC Giessen not long ago, the jump is significant. It is also the kind of step that can reshape a national team picture, especially when a player is eligible for Morocco through his heritage and already attracting interest from elsewhere.
What Germany gain from Ebnoutalib
The immediate point is that Germany have added another forward who has started the season well and who appears to have fitted quickly into the conversation around the squad. Ebnoutalib said the impression Klopp made was “very positive” and described him as “very nice and very likeable in the conversations”.
He also gave a sense of why Klopp remains such a powerful figure in football. “He is already very well known for the way he wants to play football. With high pressing, with a lot of energy and power,” Ebnoutalib said. “He has already fired us up. I think that’s what he is known for, that he is very good at reaching people and getting them on board. He has certainly got us in the right mindset.”
That is the important takeaway for Germany. This was not just a courtesy call. It appears to have helped frame the choice, give the player confidence, and bring him into a national-team setup that is clearly looking to refresh its options. For Morocco, it is a miss. For Germany, it is a promising addition at just the right moment.
The bigger test now is whether Ebnoutalib can turn this rapid rise into a lasting international role. But after a season that has moved him from the Regionalliga to Eintracht Frankfurt goals and now into Germany contention, the next step already feels like part of a remarkable climb.
