Barcelona are reportedly monitoring Moroccan midfielder Azzedine Ounahi for a possible transfer to Camp Nou following his 2022 FIFA World Cup performances.
Ounahi has been a key a part of the distinctive Moroccan aspect which have stunned everybody with their shows on the ongoing FIFA World Cup in Qatar. The Atlas Lions have turn into the first-ever African crew to achieve the semi-finals of the event.
They beat Spain, Portugal, and Belgium en path to the semis, the place they are going to face France on December 14.
Ounahi has shaped a formidable partnership with Sofyan Amrabat within the Moroccan midfield. His shows have garnered Barcelona’s curiosity, in line with Mundo Deportivo.
The Blaugrana need to signal midfielders in January or subsequent summer time to compete with the likes of Pablo Gavi and Pedri Gonzalez. Nonetheless, their monetary state of affairs and La Liga’s FFP guidelines imply they should search for low-cost choices.
Whereas Manchester Metropolis’s Bernardo Silva and Ilkay Gundogan are their first selections, the Catalans can not afford them in January.
Therefore, they’re excited by signing Ounahi, whose present market worth is €4 million. This worth will definitely improve following his spectacular performances on the FIFA World Cup, however Barcelona would possibly nonetheless need to leap in to signal him.
Ounahi, 22, presently performs for Ligue 1 membership Angers SCO, who he joined from US Avranches in the summertime of 2021. He helped them end 14th within the league final season, registering two assists and two objectives in 32 video games.
Nonetheless, Angers presently sit on the backside of the Ligue 1 desk.
Ounahi’s contract with the French membership expires in 2026 and the aforementioned report means that he can be excited by a transfer to Barcelona if a suggestion arrives.
Barcelona are excited by Azzedine Ounahi to strengthen the midfield. He is seen as a low-cost various to Bernardo Silva or Gundogan, with the additional advantage of with the ability to play as a pivot.— @mundodeportivo https://t.co/gtS6BOWR7q
Former Barcelona supervisor Luis Enrique on Azzedine Ounahi after Spain’s exit from FIFA World Cup
Azzedine Ounahi performed 119 minutes for Morocco to assist them beat Spain on penalties within the Spherical of 16 of the FIFA World Cup on December 6. He received seven duels and made 4 tackles and one interception, whereas additionally creating one large likelihood.
After the match, former Spain and Barcelona supervisor Luis Enrique expressed his admiration for Ounahi. Whereas he could not bear in mind the midfielder’s title, Enrique stated:
“I used to be pleasantly stunned by the #8, sorry I neglect his title. Oh my God, the place does this man come from? Performs extremely effectively, it stunned me, however he was the one one we weren’t conscious of.”
Ounahi has began all 5 video games for Morocco on the World Cup and can seemingly achieve this towards France within the semi-finals as effectively.