Azzedine Ounahi explodes in La Liga and dreams of Real or Barça

Luis Enrique was wondering with admiration about the identity of the Moroccan "number 8" during the World Cup in Qatar. Three years later, the midfielder is giving a resounding answer on the Spanish pitches. With three goals in nine games, the native of Casablanca is driving his team’s play, combining natural technical ease with a high work rate. This success contrasts with his difficult spells at Strasbourg or Marseille, where he never managed to establish himself permanently before being loaned to Panathinaikos.

The sporting director of Girona, Quique Cárcel, sensed the opportunity at the end of the transfer window. Taking advantage of the liquidity from sales, the club finalized the arrival of the Moroccan for a much lower amount than the initially requested 14 million by Marseille. For the manager, the key to Ounahi’s success lies in confidence: the player needed to feel important and be a protagonist, a role he fully assumes in Catalonia, explains La Vanguardia.

This step at Girona is part of an ambitious career plan. Ounahi has told his management that he joined the club to bounce back to the top, explicitly citing FC Barcelona or Real Madrid as future destinations. An admirer of Andrés Iniesta, the 25-year-old player, described as introverted and very professional off the pitch, has already conquered his locker room. His imminent departure for the Africa Cup of Nations is actually causing concern for the club, which will have to do without its best player until the beginning of 2026.