Barcelona Eyes Moroccan Defender Chadi Riad Amid Injury Crisis

Chadi Riad could experience his first time at the Camp Nou in the coming days. The unavailability of Koundé and Araujo due to injury is leading the FC Barcelona management to consider the possibility of having the young Moroccan from the B team play with the seniors.

The injuries of Barça’s two main defenders are worrying, especially at a time when the Catalan club is preparing to face Inter Milan (home and away) and Bayern Munich in the Champions League in October. Xavi Hernandez’s technical staff is counting a lot on the Moroccan international (U20) Chadi Riad, to make up for these absences.

The Moroccan has renewed his contract with Barça B until 2024. A regular starter, he is having a very good start to the season, having already scored a goal in 5 matches played. These performances confirm his admirable pre-season, during which he trained with the first team and even played a few minutes in friendly matches.

His coach at Barça B, Rafael Marquez, is full of praise for him. "He is a defender of great quality [...] he is a leader on the field, despite his young age," he said. Several Liga clubs, such as Osasuna, had expressed interest in the young player when the other Moroccan from the club, Abdessamad Ezzalzouli, was loaned out.