Chelsea Star Announces Surprise Retirement from International Football

• Hakim Ziyech's decision to quit the Morocco national team came just weeks after he was axed from the travelling squad for the just concluded 2021 AFCON
• Morocco head coach Vahid Halilhodzic made the decision after a previous fallout with the Chelsea winger
• Ziyech revealed his decision to call time on his career with Morocco is final as he will now be focusing on club duty

Chelsea forward Hakim Ziyech has announced a shock retirement from international football.

Ziyech made the announcement on Tuesday, February 8, ahead of Chelsea's Club World Cup campaign in Abu Dhabi.

The Moroccan who has made 40 appearances for the north African nation declared the decision was final and will now be focusing on club duty.

Ziyech frozen from national team

Ziyech's decision to call time on his international career came just weeks after he was axed from the Morocco squad selected for the just concluded 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon.

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The former Ajax star was overlooked due to an ongoing feud between him and Morocco national team head coach, Vahid Halilhodzic.

Back in September, Halilhodzic divulged that his patience with Ziyech had been pushed beyond breaking point.

Ziyech announces retirement

And in a sudden turn of events, Ziyech has decided to quit the national team altogether, claiming it is already clear he will never sport the national colours again.

"It’s all clear for me how things are going over there. It’s all clear for me and I’m focusing on what I’m doing and right now that’s my club," he divulged.

"I understand [it’s bad news for Moroccan people], I feel sorry for them, that’s the situation right now," he added.

Rio named Mendy among top keepers in the world

Earlier, Sports Brief reported Rio Ferdinand has named Chelsea shotstopper Edouard Mendy among the top three best goalkeepers in the world.

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Mendy has been in fine shape for both club and country since his switch to Stamford Bridge from Lille in the summer of 2020.

Ferdinand has now declared Mendy as one of the best goalkeepers in the world thanks to his consistency in the past year.