Casablanca – Racing Santander coach José Alberto Lopez believes Moroccan international Yassir Zabiri has the potential to leave a lasting mark on Spanish football following another decisive performance in La Liga.
The 21-year-old scored the winning goal in Santander’s 2-1 comeback victory over Espanyol on Saturday, taking his tally to eight goals in ten league matches this season.
Speaking at the post-match press conference, José Alberto expressed his admiration for the Moroccan forward, whose performances have quickly made him one of the team’s most important attacking players.
“We have to enjoy watching him because he’s going to define an era,” the coach said, according to Spanish news agency EFE.
The coach also spoke about Zabiri’s development and his willingness to contribute beyond scoring goals.
According to Galerna Press, José Alberto called for patience with Zabiri despite his impressive scoring record. The coach described him as a team player who works hard for his teammates and possesses the talent to make a difference in any situation.
Zabiri’s latest goal arrived in the 84th minute at El Sardinero, where Santander had fallen behind to Edu Exposito’s 62nd-minute opener.
Jeanuel Belocian brought the hosts level seven minutes later before Zabiri capitalized on a corner taken by Pablo García to complete the comeback.
The result gave Santander their third league victory of the season and extended their unbeaten home record.
The Moroccan joined Santander in July on a season-long loan from French club Rennes, with the agreement running until June 2027 and containing no purchase option.
A graduate of Morocco’s Mohammed VI Football Academy, Zabiri previously helped the country’s U20 national team win the 2025 World Cup in Chile, where he scored twice in the final against Argentina.
His eight goals now place him alongside Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal among La Liga’s leading scorers, one behind Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappé.
Santander’s next league fixture will take Zabiri to the Santiago Bernabéu, where his side face Real Madrid on November 1
