In an interview published on the club’s official website, Angers midfielder Azzedine Ounahi has indicated that there are indeed clubs interested in his signature, following his impressive performances as a part of Morocco’s run to the World Cup semi-finals.
Among the first clubs to be linked with the former Avranches man were Leicester, with L’Équipe indicating that the Premier League side would be prepared to put up to €45m on the table. Foot Mercato, and tonight Gianluca Di Marzio, then reported that Marseille and Napoli were interested.
The Azzurri are said to have initiated contact with the 22-year-old’s agent, with Di Marzio suggesting a fee closer to the €20m-€25m range would be on the cards.
In any case, with Angers bottom of the Ligue 1 table, a move now appears inevitable for the man who was central to Walid Regragui’s Atlas Lions team over in Doha, not least given the team’s financial restrictions.
“[…] It’s Angers who allowed me to play in a World Cup and show my qualities to the world. If I wasn’t a starter at Angers or playing in Ligue 1, I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to play in a World Cup aged 22. Angers is an important step in my career. Now, we all know that there are clubs who are interested. It’s a choice that will need to be made, one that will be important for my career, and most of all I need to make the right choice. We don’t know how things will play out yet. Will I leave in January? Will I sign somewhere, stay to help the club then leave this summer? I don’t know yet. I’ll wait for the next few days, weeks to make the right choice. I’m in contact every day with the [club] president Saïd [Chabane]. We’re going to make the right choice for my career and for the club.”
GFFN | Raphaël Jucobin
