Join on WhatsApp
Join on Telegram
Moroccan right-winger Abdessamad Ezzalzouli has joined FC Barcelona from second-tier Spanish club Hercules CF for a three-year deal, the Spanish club announced today.
The 19-year-old Moroccan will join Barça B for the running season, with the usual option of progressing to the first team if he impresses.
“FC Barcelona has paid the release clause of the player Abdessamad Ezzalzouli. The 19-year-old Moroccan winger comes from Hercules and will sign for three seasons, until June 30, 2024, plus two seasons in option, ” Barcelona said in a statement.
The Beni Mellal-born scored one goal from his eight appearances e for Hercules last season. He was called up to represent Morocco’s U20 national team in their friendly against Tunisia in March 2020 but he did not feature in the line-up.
Abdessamad Ezzalzouli will join his compatriot and recently promoted to the Barça B team Zacarias Ghailan, who has extended his contract with the club until June 2024. Ghailan played with Morocco’s youth team in this year’s U20 Africa Cup of Nations, where the Atlas Lions lost to Tunisia in the quarter-finals.
In other transfer news, Barcelona also announced today the signing of Dutch international Luuk de Jong on a one-season deal. Meanwhile, French forward Antoine Griezmann, Guinean midfielder Ilaix Moriba, and Brazilian right-back Emerson Royal have left Barcelona to join Atletico Madrid, RB Leipzig, and Tottenham FC respectively.
The club also announced that young striker Ansu Fati will take over the number 10 jersey after the recent, unexpected departure of the club’s legend Leo Messi.
After three fixtures in the 2021-22 season, FC Barcelona has collected seven points from nine possible – with two wins and one draw. While the team’s overall performance looks promising, head coach Ronald Koeman still needs to improve his defensive line.
As of now, neither Gerard Pique nor Eric Garcia has convinced. Clement Lenglet, for his part, has been out of shape and sharpness since last year.
And, more critical perhaps, Samuel Umtiti, who got booed by the fans against Getafe last weekend, has not been the same player since starring in France’s triumph at the 2018 World Cup.
