What is the story behind Kerrar Amer's statements before joining Iraq's squad?

The latest squad for Iraq's national team, announced by Australian head coach Graham Arnold, features a notable and deserved return for the talented defender Kerrar Amer (28 years old) of Al-Karma, who has been included in the official lineup for the upcoming Basra Four Nations friendly tournament set to kick off on November 10, with participation from teams including Iran, Palestine, and Lebanon.

This return is an exceptional milestone for the defender who has been absent from the coaching staff's plans for a long time. Kerrar Amer has only 3 previous international matches to his name, totaling 182 minutes played in friendly encounters against Oman, Mexico, and Ecuador during 2022.

Kerrar Amer has often been linked with controversial statements during his exclusion from the previous coaches' options, including the Spaniard Jesús Casas and the Australian Arnold. Amer has always believed that he deserves to be present and protect the Iraqi defense compared to many other names being considered.

The controversy peaked earlier when the player hinted at political influence and interference in the selection process for the Iraq national team, stating that he has connections with influential figures who could have intervened to ensure his presence, but he preferred not to use those means.

With the announcement of the new squad, some speculation has arisen linking Kerrar Amer's call-up to the good relationship between Al-Karma's management and the President of the Iraq Football Association, Younis Mahmoud, especially after Arnold's recent statements in which he confirmed that the selections were in line with Younis Mahmoud's strategy and future vision.

Away from the media controversy and debate, the official numbers and statistics released by the Iraq Football Association indicate that Kerrar Amer's call-up was based purely on technical conviction and excellent figures that impressed the coaching staff after he delivered remarkable performances that directly contributed to his team Al-Karma's rise to the top of the Iraq Stars League table.

The numbers reflect Kerrar Amer's strong influence this season, as he has played 1197 minutes in 12 matches as a starter. He successfully won back possession 160 times and won 76 duels out of 123 ground and aerial challenges. Additionally, he cleared 74 dangerous balls from critical areas and committed only 9 fouls, while completing 527 accurate passes, highlighting his pivotal role in ball progression and building attacks from the back.

Kerrar Amer is making a significant return to the national spotlight thanks to the exceptional work of Al-Karma's Egyptian coach Moamen Soliman, who has succeeded in rediscovering the player's abilities and utilizing them optimally within the league's leading system.

Suleiman has managed to pull Kerrar Amer out of the fluctuating form that accompanied him in his previous experiences with several clubs such as Al Najaf, Al-Shorta, Al Talaba, and Al-Nasr, bringing him to the highest levels of physical and mental readiness that have opened the doors for his return to the ranks of the Lions of Mesopotamia in a grand way.