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Rabat – Neil El Aynaoui continues to draw notice during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with performances that place him among the competition’s most talked-about players.
As his reputation grows across Europe, a personal detail from his early life has added a new dimension to discussions about his future.
In an interview with Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo, his father, former tennis player Younes El Aynaoui, spoke about his son’s deep connection to FC Barcelona.
“My son belongs to Barça. He lived there from birth until the age of 11. He would be the happiest man in the world if he played there one day,” he said.
El Aynaoui was born in Nancy in 2001 but spent much of his childhood in Barcelona, where his family settled for several years. Those formative years shaped both his style of play and his loyalty to the Catalan club.
The midfielder, now under contract with AS Roma until 2030, has often referred to that period. In an earlier statement, he described himself as a modern midfielder with strong endurance and tactical flexibility, while recalling his admiration for Andrés Iniesta, a player he looked up to as a child.
His current World Cup campaign confirms his rise. Match after match, he delivers assured performances that strengthen his standing at the highest level. Such form could raise his market value and attract interest from several major European clubs.
No formal move has taken shape so far, yet the link to Barcelona, rooted in his childhood, adds weight to the speculation that surrounds his next step.
