Rabat – Moroccan youth international Yassir Zabiri has wasted no time making an impact at his new club, scoring his first goal for Racing Santander during a preseason friendly against Sporting Gijón on Friday.
The 20-year-old striker scored Racing Santander’s third goal in the 45th minute (45+2) as his side cruised to a convincing 4-1 victory in one of its final warm-up matches before the start of the 2026-2027 Spanish football season.
Zabiri remained on the pitch until the 56th minute before being substituted as part of a series of tactical changes made by Racing Santander’s coaching staff. Although his outing lasted less than an hour, the Moroccan forward left a strong impression by getting on the scoresheet in his unofficial debut.
His performance comes just weeks after completing his move to the Spanish side, offering an early glimpse of the qualities that convinced Racing Santander to invest in one of Morocco’s most promising young attackers.
A new chapter in Spain
Zabiri joined Racing Santander this summer after spending the previous stages of his development in Portugal and France. The transfer represents another important step in the striker’s career as he seeks regular football in one of Europe’s most competitive leagues.
The move to Spain was seen as an opportunity for Zabiri to continue his progression in a demanding environment while gaining valuable experience in Spanish football. Racing Santander views the Moroccan as a long-term investment capable of strengthening its attacking options both now and in the future.
The club announced his signing as part of its preparations for the new campaign, with Zabiri arriving eager to establish himself after attracting attention through his performances at youth level.
Rising through the ranks
Born in Morocco, Zabiri has steadily built a reputation as one of the country’s brightest attacking prospects. His physical presence, intelligent movement, and finishing ability have made him a standout performer throughout his youth career.
He had represented Morocco in the previous U20 World Cup in Chile, where he helped the country lift the Cup by being the top scorer of the competition. His outstanding performances have earned him praise from coaches and observers who believe he has the potential to become part of the next generation of Atlas Lions.
The striker’s development has also reflected Morocco’s growing emphasis on nurturing young talent capable of succeeding in Europe’s top leagues. His move to Spain follows a growing trend of Moroccan youngsters choosing competitive European environments to accelerate their development.
Adapting to Spanish Football
Friday’s friendly also marked Zabiri’s first real opportunity to experience Spanish football after spells influenced by Portuguese and French styles of play.
While preseason matches are primarily designed to build fitness and test tactical systems, they also provide new signings with an opportunity to adapt to different playing philosophies. Zabiri’s quick goal suggests he is already settling into Racing Santander’s attacking setup.
Scoring in his first appearance is likely to boost his confidence ahead of the competitive campaign, particularly as he aims to earn a regular place in the starting lineup.
More preseason action ahead
Racing Santander’s preparations are far from over. The Spanish club is scheduled to play another preseason friendly later on Friday against Deportivo Alavés, allowing the coaching staff to rotate the squad and give additional minutes to players who featured less against Sporting Gijón.
With the season opener approaching, the technical staff will continue evaluating the squad before finalizing its plans for the league campaign.
For Zabiri, however, the first impression could hardly have gone better. A goal in his first preseason appearance, after just 56 minutes on the pitch, offers an encouraging start to his Spanish adventure and strengthens his case for a prominent role once the new season begins.
