Rabat – FC Barcelona is not ready to let go of its striker yet. Despite sitting on the bench for two seasons, Morocco’s Munir El Haddadi may stay with the Spanish club for a while.
According to Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo, Barça hopes to extend the contract of the Spanish-Moroccan football player for 5 more years. The “Blaugranas” has announced that it will not give up on the young footballer for less than €14 million, as he is under contract until 2019.
El Haddadi, who played under the colors of Alavés where he was loaned last season and scored 10 goals, has also raised the interest of French clubs, such as Lille and Olympique Marseille.
During his youth, the 21-year-old footballer also played for several Spanish clubs, including Atletico Madrid, FC Valencia, and Rayo Majadahonda.
As for his national career, El Haddadi, born to Moroccan parents in Spain, represented the Spanish national under-19 team and under-20 and made a brief appearance as a substitute at an international game against Macedonia in 2014. His appearance then ruined his chances to represent the Moroccan national football team, according to FIFA eligibility rules.
In 2017, El Haddadi urged Morocco to help him convince FIFA to let him represent Morocco. The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) asked FIFA to let him play for Morocco in the 2018 World Cup.
The FIFA Players’ Status Committee ruled that El Haddadi’s sporting nationality could not be changed from Spain to Morocco March 13.
When the decision was appealed, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) confirmed the FIFA ruling with a verdict in May.
