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Rabat – The impressive performance and skills of Moroccan football player Azzedine Ounahi at the ongoing Qatar World Cup have caught the eyes of football fans worldwide and put him on the radar of some of Europe’s elite football clubs.
Premier League club Leicester City is interested in signing Ounahi and is “ready” to offer a sum of €45 million (MAD 501 million), French news outlet L’Equipe reported on Tuesday.
“Leicester is ready to break the bank for Azzedine Ounahi,” L’Equipe said, stressing that the Moroccan player’s current club — France’s Angers SCO — would not be able to retain him given the English club’s appealing offer.
The French club’s president Said Chabane has unsurprisingly admitted that it would be difficult to keep hold of Ounahi and that the club is “ready for everything.” He said, “You know that we can never keep a player that wants to leave.”
Earlier this week, Spanish media reported that FB Barcelona is eying the Moroccan midfielder, stressing that Ounahi impressed Spain’s former head coach Luis Enrique during Morocco’s game against La Roja in the round of 16.
Morocco stunned the Spanish national team with a 3-0 shock win in the penalty shootout after a goalless draw. La Roja’s loss prompted Spain’s Royal football federation to sack Enrique and appoint a new head coach for the team.
Read also: Jose Mourinho in Awe of Morocco’s Ounahi, Regragui
“I was pleasantly surprised by the number 8. I’m sorry, I don’t remember his name,” said Enrique, expressing his admiration for Ounahi’s impressive performance on the pitch.
“How did this guy get here, my God? He excelled at his game. He surprised me. Hakimi, Ziyech, En-Nesyri, and Amrabat, too, but him… What a long run, how worn out must he be!” the former Spain coach added.
In addition to Ounahi, several other Atlas Lions have stood out as part of the Moroccan squad’s fairytale journey to the semi-finals, notably goalkeeper Yassine Bounou with his iconic saves.
The Moroccan national team will face off against France today in the semifinals of the World Cup, with the North African squad looking to extend their stay in Qatar and reach the tournament’s finals for the first time in history.
