Fenerbahçe Fans Turn on Struggling Striker En-Nesyri After Goal Drought

Arriving at Fenerbahce last summer from Sevilla for 19.5 million euros, Youssef En-Nesyri lit up the Süper Lig from the start. He has scored 26 goals and provided 7 assists in 47 appearances this season. From August to February, he averaged a goal every 64 minutes. With his brace in the Copa against Erzurumspor (5-0), the former Sevilla player became the world’s top scorer since the start of the season in February with a total of 11 goals in 9 matches, tied with Ousmane Dembélé of PSG, ahead of Marcos Leonardo (Al Hilal, 10 goals), Emam Ashour (Al Ahly, 10 goals) and Alex (Dewa United, 9 goals).

However, the Moroccan striker began to sink in March. In Sunday’s derby against Beşiktaş, he was sent off in the 70th minute to boos and whistles from the home fans. The match ended in a defeat for Fenerbahçe (1-0) and, with the Moroccan international, perhaps the loss of the Turkish club’s title. Galatasaray players are ahead of them (five points behind). Criticism is flying. "You wasted another 70 minutes of Fenerbahçe’s playing time by pretending to save En-Nesyri in the eyes of the supporters... You save yourself first," Erman Özgür fumes to TivibuSport.

Since his goal against Antalyaspor on March 2, the 27-year-old player has struggled to find the back of the net. Faced with criticism, his coach José Mourinho had to publicly defend the Moroccan striker. "En-Nesyri has scored 26 goals without taking a penalty. He went through a difficult period during Ramadan, where he lost a bit of his form, but he is starting to find his best level again. He has proven that he is regaining his physical condition. He will undoubtedly play a key role in the last seven matches of the season," the Portuguese coach said earlier this month.

However, it is difficult for the Moroccan international to fulfill this hope. Despite his drop in performance, En-Nesyri is on the radar of several clubs. West Ham and Saudi giant Al-Nassr would like to secure the services of the Moroccan striker whose contract with Fenerbahçe runs until 2026. It remains to be seen if the club will let him go this summer.