Morocco international Azzedine Ounahi has broken his silence on his future amid Napoli, Inter, Leicester City and Olympique Marseille rumours. ‘The sporting project comes first.’
The 22-year-old midfielder was a revelation at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, helping his team become the first ever African side to reach the semi-finals.
SCO Angers are struggling badly in Ligue 1, so a sale seems inevitable in January, and Napoli have emerged as the favourites.
Ounahi spoke to the official club website and confirmed he is ready to move on.
“I told the President, the sporting project comes first. I don’t have a favourite league or an ideal destination, I want above all to evaluate the sporting project.
“I know that I still have progress to make at the club where I will go. I want to be clear with everyone, I have no preference for this or that league, as if there is a real sporting project, then that’s where I will go.”
Napoli are reportedly planning to purchase Ounahi in January for €25m, but then leave him at SCO Angers on loan for the rest of the current campaign.
This could put then at an advantage over contenders like Inter, Olympique Marseille and Leicester City.
They are in no rush to bring Ounahi to the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona because there are already several midfield options available to coach Luciano Spalletti.
It’s believed he would next season act as a replacement for Diego Demme or more likely Tanguy Ndombele, who is only on loan from Tottenham Hotspur with an option to buy for €32.5m.