Rabat – Hakim Ziyech has sparked controversy at Wydad AC after publicly criticizing the club’s management over his absence from the team’s latest friendly and its training camp in Agadir ahead of the new season.
The Moroccan international responded to a post on an Instagram page supporting Wydad, claiming that the club’s president prevented him from taking part in the friendly and traveling with the squad.
“Go and ask your president why he refused to let me play in the game and travel to Agadir,” Ziyech wrote, adding that the president would “probably lie about it as usual.”
The comment quickly went viral among Wydad supporters and has intensified questions surrounding the 33-year-old’s future at the Casablanca club.
Wydad looking to part ways with Ziyech
According to Moroccan outlet Al Omk Sport, Wydad’s management is looking to part ways with Ziyech and has reportedly attempted to convince the player to terminate his contract by mutual consent.
Ziyech remains under contract with Wydad until the summer of 2027, meaning the club would need to reach an agreement with the player to end the deal early.
The main issue appears to be financial. Wydad reportedly consider Ziyech’s salary, estimated at around MAD 1 million per month, too high for the club’s current financial capacity.
The management reportedly views the player’s contract as a significant burden on the club’s budget as it prepares for the upcoming season.
Wydad fans want Ziyech to stay
The situation has put Wydad’s management in a difficult position, with a large section of the club’s supporters calling for the former Chelsea player to remain in Casablanca.
Many fans believe Ziyech offers value beyond his performances on the pitch. His international reputation, career in Europe and global popularity could also provide significant commercial and marketing benefits for the club.
Supporters argue that Ziyech’s marketability could help offset part of the financial cost of his contract, while his experience could prove valuable as Wydad targets domestic and international success.
A high-profile signing
Ziyech joined Wydad at the beginning of 2026 as a free agent during the tenure of former club president Hicham Ait Menna.
The move was considered one of the biggest transfers in Moroccan football in recent years, given Ziyech’s European experience and his long career with the Moroccan national team.
After starting his career in the Netherlands with FC Twente and Ajax, Ziyech moved to Chelsea in 2020. He later played for Galatasaray in Turkey and Al-Duhail in Qatar before returning to Morocco to join Wydad.
The attacking midfielder made a positive impact in several of his appearances for the Casablanca club, producing decisive moments and scoring important goals.
His arrival had generated significant excitement among Wydad supporters, who hoped that his experience in European competitions and international football would help the club compete for major trophies.
However, his latest comments have now opened a new chapter in what could become a complicated dispute between the player and the club.
With Ziyech contracted until 2027 and the two sides apparently divided over his future, Wydad now face a delicate decision over whether to keep one of Moroccan football’s biggest names or seek an agreement to end his stay in Casablanca.
