From the Mohammed VI Academy to Ligue 1: Aït-Boudlal impresses in Rennes before the AFCON

It only took the 19-year-old player 17 seconds to cross the field and seal the fate of the match (4-1). Starting from his own penalty area on a hand pass, he requested a one-two before rushing into the open space, concluding his action with a winning shot. His coach, Habib Beye, praised this projection capacity already glimpsed in training, noting that "when he had 30 meters in front of him, there was nothing that could stop him".

This feat validates the career of a highly coveted talent, according to L’Equipe. Arrived in Brittany in July 2024, the native of Marrakech had a wide choice, being on the shortlists of giants like Liverpool or Manchester City. He finally opted for the Rennes project, convinced by the previous success of his compatriot Nayef Aguerd, before gaining experience during a loan to Amiens in Ligue 2, where his aggressiveness and technique had already seduced.

His return to form comes at a strategic moment. Already a scorer against Nice at the end of October, Aït-Boudlal took advantage of the absences to honor his first selection with Morocco during the recent friendly match against Uganda. This upward trajectory now places the defender, under contract until 2028, as a serious contender for the next Africa Cup of Nations.