Moroccan forward Abde Ezzalzouli’s return to FC Barcelona has reportedly been doubtful, as he does not want to be benched again in Barcelona, according to Barcelona focused outlet FCBN.
Ezzalzouli is expected to return to Barca in July, after completing his one-year loan to Osasuna under the management of Jagoba Arrasate, during which he has had a good season.
The Moroccan finished the season with a record of 6 goals and 2 assists in 34 games, reaching the Copa del Rey final and helping the team qualify for the UEFA Europa Conference League after finishing seventh in La Liga.
While Osasuna would like to keep Ezzalzouli, who they consider one of the favorites as a winger, they know that Barcelona will not accept the offer of a new loan.
Even should Osasuna attempt to buy the player, AS reported on Tuesday that his parent club are hoping to secure over 25 million euros for him, an amount that only Premier League clubs would be able to pay for him.
Barca head coach Xavi Hernandez has previously praised Ezzalzouli’s abilities, but the potential arrival of Yannick Carrasco in addition to the club’s existing first options such as Ousmane Dembele and Raphinha would deprive the Moroccan of a place in the starting squad.
Thanks to his impressive performances, other clubs have reportedly shown interest in the Moroccan footballer, namely Spain’s Real Betis, Germany’s Bayer Leverkusen, and England’s Leeds United, with some targeting him as a priority.