Real Madrid Snaps Up Moroccan Wonderkid Abdellah Ouazane on Free Transfer

Free from any contract after leaving Ajax Amsterdam, Abdellah Ouazane will soon be joining Real Madrid. The Merengue club has finalized the arrival of the young Moroccan midfielder without spending a single cent, reveal Spanish media. Information confirmed by Italian sports journalist Fabrizio Romano this Monday. The Spanish club has thus cut the grass under the feet of Ajax, who had offered the young Moroccan talent three contract extension offers, one of which was considered an ultimatum. Proposals declined by Ouazane. John Heitinga, the new coach of the Amsterdam club, who personally called him, failed to change his mind. He simply turned his back on the club that trained him since the age of 7.

Real Madrid has also outmaneuvered other major European clubs that have shown interest in the 16-year-old player after his brilliant participation in the U17 Africa Cup of Nations with Morocco - an edition won by the Atlas Lions.

How did Real Madrid pull off this big coup? The Merengue club relied on international regulations. This implies that a 16-year-old player can sign his first professional contract with a foreign club as soon as his current contract expires. Thus, no transfer fee is due before his 18th birthday, except for a slight training allowance.

The signing of a three-year contract, which is the maximum duration allowed for players of Ouazane’s age, should be effective in July. Once arrived at Real Madrid, he will first join the U19 team. It is not excluded that he will play with Castilla, the reserve team. He will then join the 2009 generation, alongside other prospects like Enzo Alves and Leo Lemaître.