Azzedine Ounahi's future increasingly uncertain
Azzedine Ounahi faces an uncertain future. The Morocco international midfielder does not know where he will be playing.
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Azzedine Ounahi is in limbo. In a situation like this at the 2022 World Cup, the Moroccan maestro would have dribbled past his opponents, produced a pass out of nowhere, dropped a feint, and shaken off every last worry. But this is not Qatar in 2022, and the opponents are not ordinary footballers. The 25-year-old is being pushed towards the exit by Olympique de Marseille, who no longer count on him. It has to be said that during his first half-season in 2022-2023 (he arrived in January 2023), and then his first full campaign the following year, the former Angers player disappointed badly. Expected to dictate play, he was more often a ghost when he was on the pitch, and he was also injured.
Marseille therefore decided to send him out on loan in the summer of 2024, to Panathinaikos. In Greece, Azzedine Ounahi rediscovered his form, scoring 5 goals and providing 7 assists in 37 games. Above all, the Atlas Lion enjoyed the trust of his coach, starting 60% of the time. For now, however, his performances have yet to attract clubs.
#FreeOunahi
Brighton sounded out the situation just before this transfer window opened, but nothing came of it. Spartak Moscow, though, showed more pronounced interest. The Russian club even agreed a deal with OM worth 12 million euros for a permanent transfer. The only snag: Azzedine Ounahi refused to go and play in Russia. So it is back to square one.
Read also: Azzedine Ounahi turns down Spartak Moscow
Panathinaikos, for their part, would like to keep the player but consider 12 million euros too high. Greek supporters, frustrated by the demands of an uncompromising Marseille, have even started a #FreeOunahi hashtag on social media.
— hamoudamdef (@AribmdefHamed) July 2, 2025
AFCON and World Cup: the sword of Damocles
Either way, Azzedine Ounahi has his back against the wall. He must find regular game time if he wants to keep his place as a mainstay in Walid Regragui's side. Regragui is due to lead his squad into the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations at the end of the year, on home soil. And in 2026, there is the World Cup in the United States.
As a result, the 2025 transfer window looks decisive for Azzedine Ounahi, for his short- and long-term future, since Morocco have an exceptional pool of players able to replace him at a moment's notice. What's more, to live up to the promise glimpsed at the 2022 World Cup, Ounahi needs to find a new home where he can show the full extent of his talent. Even if, for now, the outlook looks more cloudy than clear.