18 months. That’s how lengthy it took Azedinne Ounahi to launch his profession. The 22-year-old was enjoying in French third tier slightly below 2 years, and now is likely one of the most wanted midfielders in world soccer, enjoying his commerce at Anger in Ligue 1.
Morocco’s run on the Qatar 2022 World Cup was distinctive, and all the soccer fanbase took discover of it. From Yassine Bounou’s penalty-saving heroics to Sofyan Amrabat’s tireless operating in the course of the park, the Atlas Lions had been the speak of the city.
However one participant who had gone beneath the radar was Azedinne Ounahi whose performances alongside Amrabat had been as vital. His motion and late arrival within the opposition penalty field in opposition to Spain within the Spherical of 16 was what caught the attention of supervisor Luis Enrique.
Moroccan golf equipment are additionally the dominant drive in African soccer proper now – winners of the boys’s and girls’s Champions League titles in addition to the Confederation Cup.
These successes are mirrored by the progress made by the 22-year-old Ounahi, who has come on leaps and bounds since first signing for Strasbourg after leaving his homeland in 2018.
How good is Azzedine Ounahi?
In Might 2021, US Avranches nearly clung on to their Championnat Nationwide standing, ending thirteenth out of 18 sides. However, regardless of their struggles, the French membership had a gifted younger Moroccan of their ranks who was turning heads with stellar performances.
His title was Azzedine Ounahi. An agile midfielder with wonderful dribbling expertise and excellent tactical consciousness, he by no means shirked a sort out regardless of his slim construct. It was already clear for all to see that the teen was destined to play on the highest stage.
Is Rivaldo proper about Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr transfer? 🤑#Ronaldo #CR7 #AlNassr pic.twitter.com/R3S3GNYT1E
— FootTheBall FC (@FootTheBallFC) January 10, 2023
Nonetheless, Ounahi must await his likelihood to compete within the high flight. Contemporary out of the Mohammed VI Soccer Academy in Sale, Morocco, the midfielder began his senior profession at Ligue 1 aspect RC Strasbourg in July 2018, that includes initially for the reserves.
Azzedine Ounahi stats
Regardless of his slim body, Ounahi is an aggressive box-to-box midfielder who’s as able to successful in a floor duel as he’s of effortlessly evading previous 5 challenges and gliding throughout the pitch like Teflon, and that is evidenced in his spectacular underlying numbers at Angers this yr.
Ounahi – as per FBref’s scout report – is within the 99th percentile amongst his positional friends in Europe’s high 5 leagues for dribbles tried per 90 (4.48). His shot creation numbers likewise make for spectacular studying as he has averaged 0.43 profitable dribbles resulting in pictures per 90, placing him within the 79th percentile for that individual class.
Moreover, the perceived aggressive chew to Ounahi’s recreation shouldn’t be made hazy by his numbers defensively. He’s within the 93rd percentile of tackles made within the center third of the pitch amongst his positional friends in Europe’s high 5 leagues, making 0.87 per 90.
Learn Extra:
Azzedine Ounahi scout report
After a season in Normandy, the younger Moroccan left the third division for SCO Angers in Ligue 1, placing his expertise to the final word take a look at. This turned out to be an impressed transfer for Ounahi, who shortly grew to become a key participant at his new membership.
His improvement and effective performances for the membership didn’t go unnoticed, shortly catching the attention of former Morocco coach Vahid Halilhodzic, who named him, to many individuals’s shock, in his squad for the Africa Cup of Nations 2021.
Ounahi made his Ligue 1 debut at the start of 2021/22 season, step by step forcing his approach into the beginning line-up for an Angers aspect that completed 14th. Quick ahead to 2023 and he is likely one of the high targets for golf equipment like PSG and Manchester Metropolis.
A relative unknown outdoors his homeland and France, the place solely Lionel Messi has accomplished extra dribbles in Ligue 1 this season, few are unlikely to overlook Ounahi’s title after the World Cup.
Azzedine Ounahi switch information
Who would have believed that Azzedine Ounahi would begin for Morocco within the knockouts of the World Cup, and carry out as brilliantly as he did? Morocco did crash out by the hands of 2018 champions France who misplaced to Argentina in an exhilarating last, however at simply 22 years of age, Azzedine Ounahi has proven by his spectacular performances on the world stage that he’s most definitely one to look out for within the years to come back.
All that can grow to be clear quickly sufficient, however for now, it’s best merely to take pleasure in him as he lights up the world stage, and to understand how far Azzedine Ounahi, the thin child with the quantity eight on his again, has already come. And a switch on this winter switch window of 2023 look possible if his efficiency in Qatar are something to go by.
