Marseille Moves to Extend Rising Star Bilal Nadir’s Contract Amid AFCON Preparations

OM wants to extend Bilal Nadir’s contract, which will expire in June 2024. The club mainly wants to prevent a club from snatching away its young prodigy. Thus, discussions for a contract extension have begun, according to Foot Mercato. With the approach of the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN 2024) to be held from January to February in Côte d’Ivoire, the 20-year-old player will be of great use to the Marseille club. Some of its players (Ounahi and Harit with Morocco, Pape Gueye, Iliman Ndiaye or Ismaila Sarr with Senegal in particular) will participate in this major continental sporting event. Nadir will not be called up by the Atlas Lions coach, Walid Regragui.

This season, Nadir has played 6 matches (23 minutes in total). He has been able to shine through professionalism in such a short time. He has proven that he deserved the trust that OM coach Gennaro Gattuso placed in him. His playing technique is fascinating. In his last appearance against OL (3-0), his nice left-footed shot ended up hitting the post. He was able to show that he deserved better than a "luxury joker status". These performances have also won over the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF). The native of Nice had his first call-up with the Moroccan U23 team, winner of the last Africa Cup and qualified for the Olympic Games. He scored a spectacular goal against the United States (1-0).