Barca star appeals to switch international allegiance from Spain to Morocco

Munir, currently on loan at Alaves from Barcelona, has one Spain cap, earned back in 2014 in a Euro 2016 qualifier against Macedonia. In theory, that makes him ineligible to chance allegiance as he has featured in a competitive game.

However, the 22-year-old took his request to FIFA, who promptly rejected it on those grounds.

Still keen to press through the switch, Munir, who has 11 goals in 31 games in all competitions so far this season, has now taken his appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), requesting a decision by mid-May "in order for the player's sporting nationality to be decided prior to the commencement of the FIFA 2018 World Cup".

Munir was born in Spain and has a Moroccan father and speaking following his solitary Spain appearance he said: "This was my decision and I knew what I was doing. Since I was young I have played in Spain and this was my idea. I spoke with people in Morocco and told them that I wanted to play here instead."

To add intrigue to the plot, Spain and Morocco have been drawn in the same group for this summer's World Cup.