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Rachad Fettal is a name football fans in Spain and Morocco may hear more often in the coming years.
The 20-year-old striker joined Real Madrid Castilla in July 2025 after a promising season with UD Almería, where he made his first-team debut and scored his first professional goal. Now, he is hoping to continue his development at one of the biggest clubs in the world.
Fettal was born in Torre-Pacheco, in the Spanish region of Murcia, on January 16, 2005. He holds both Spanish and Moroccan nationality and has chosen to represent Morocco at the international level.
He started playing football at a young age and joined local club EF Torre Pacheco, where he quickly stood out. At 13, he scored 28 goals in 30 games. That led to a move to UCAM Murcia’s youth setup before joining UD Almería in 2020.
His father, he says, has been a key figure in his career. “He is the one who got me into football and has accompanied me to all games since I was little,” Fettal told AS.
In the 2022–23 season, he was the top scorer in the Copa del Rey Juvenil, helping Almería’s U19 team reach the final. He was then promoted to Almería B and made his senior debut at 16.
In the 2023–24 season, Fettal made his first appearance for Almería’s first team in La Liga, coming on against Real Betis in December 2023. He scored his first professional goal in September 2024 in a 2–2 draw with SD Eibar.
“I’m very grateful to coach Rubi, and I’m pleased he spoke well of me, even though we lost,” he said to La Voz de Almería after a league match.
Fettal’s season was interrupted by a knee injury in January 2025, which kept him out for three months. He returned in April and finished the season with 14 league appearances and one goal.
On July 11, 2025, Real Madrid confirmed the signing of Fettal, who signed a three-year contract and joined Castilla, the club’s reserve side, which plays in the third tier of Spanish football.
At 1.84m, Fettal is a classic centre-forward. He is left-footed and known for his pace, strength, and movement off the ball. Spanish media have compared his playing style to that of former Barcelona and Uruguay striker Luis Suárez.
“He is a fighter. He doesn’t stop pressing, he’s got grit, and he never hides,” wrote Marca.
Fettal has represented both Spain and Morocco at the youth level. He played for Spain U18 in 2023, scoring twice in three appearances, but later accepted a call-up to the Morocco U20 team.
“I still have a lot to improve, and I work every day on the details,” he told AS.
Fettal is expected to compete for a starting role with Castilla in the 2025–26 season under coach Álvaro Arbeloa. If he continues to progress, a call-up to the Real Madrid first team — or Morocco’s senior side — may not be far off.
