Moroccan Midfielder Ounahi Finds Fresh Start at Panathinaïkós

"I went through difficult times and a really tough transfer window. What happened will serve me in life. This situation made me grow. And I don’t want to make the same mistakes as before. I want to give 100% to be up to the level of the club and return to my best level. Give myself the means to go where I want to go. I’m a player who walks by feeling, I have to feel loved, feel involved. [...]," Azzedine Ounahi confided to the Greek club’s microphone when he joined the Panathinaïkós squad. He added: "Last season was complicated for me. I had an injury and I had personal issues, things outside of football that impacted me. I didn’t work hard enough and I take responsibility for that. I didn’t work hard enough to be at my best level. I won’t make the same mistakes, I’m coming with a new mentality."

After the departure of Diego Alonso, the Moroccan international is starting to regain playing time and consistency. The new Greek club coach Rui Vitória trusts him. Ounahi has participated in 11 matches in all competitions, including 8 as a starter, and is already making an impression. Scorer of a goal in the confrontation between Panathinaïkós and Atromitos on December 4, 2024, he was named man of the match. On December 19, he provided a nice assist in the match against FK Dinamo Minsk in the Conference League. This revelation of the 2022 World Cup with Morocco has succeeded in the first part of the 2024-2025 season. His performances are seducing the Greek club’s supporters but also the management.

Moreover, Panathinaïkós plans to exercise the purchase option of the Atlas Lion set by Olympique de Marseille during his loan this summer, according to Footmercato. The 24-year-old player’s contract with OM runs until 2027. The Greek club will have to pay 11.5 M€ to keep its number 8.