Hakim Ziyech retires from playing for Morocco at age 28,says He wants to focus on Chelsea

Chelsea star Hakim Ziyech has announced his decision to retire from playing for the national team of Morocco.

If you recall that The 28-year-old has not played for the Atlas Lions since June last year, after he fell out with Head coach Vahid Halilhodžić.

Ziyech did not want to reconcile and was omitted from the squad for this year's Africa Cup of Nations.

He announced his decision after Chelsea’s training session in Abu Dhabi earlier today.

“I will not return to the national team. Yes, it’s my final decision.”

“I understand [and] I feel sorry for [the fans, but] that’s the situation right now.”

Ziyech is currently with the Blues in Abu Dhabi as the Premier League club prepare to face Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal in the semi-finals of the Club World Cup on Wednesday.

It's been gathered that Ziyech was born in the Netherlands and represented them at youth international level, but switched allegiance to Morocco in 2015.

He recorded 39 caps for the North Africans and scored 17 goals.