Several Moroccan players caught the world’s attention during the 2022 Qatar World Cup, as Azzedine Ounahi recently sealed a move to Marseille, while others are following in his footsteps in a market full of intricacies.
While players of Ounahi’s caliber and potential are sought after, the current market for players would say that offers lower than 30 million would not be enough, even though his move was made complete with a mere 10 million euros, including add-ons.
Yahya Attiat-Allah, current Wydad player, who was on par with Bayern Munich’s Noussair Mazraoui during their latest World Cup campaign, is reportedly subject to a deal worth 1.2 million euros.
Noussair Mazraoui, who performed well in the previous competition, saw his market value rise to 28 million Euros. The Moroccan international’s market price before his move to the Bavarian in 2022 was no less than 20 million, it’s worth noting that Mazraoui has both Dutch and Moroccan nationalities.
It’s worth noting that age is another factor in players’ market value, Mazraoui who’s 25, has 2 years more in his career and development as a player than 27-year-old Attiat-Allah.
A significant difference between the two players, who shared the same duties, and were in close contention over a starting spot with the Atlas Lions. While in Europe, the current transfer window saw deals reaching 60 to 100 million euros among up-and-coming players of European origin.
Saudi Sports Agent Falah Abou-Rayan told Hespress EN: “when we look at the current transfer market, we understand why there is a mentality of minute details that count greatly.” Explaining that European clubs count for specific variables to assess a player’s market value.
The Football Agent added, “The most important factor to take in, which for me affects 50% of the market value is citizenship.”
In Spanish La Liga, for example, each club is allowed five non-EU players but is only allowed to name three non-EU players in each matchday squad.
The term “non-EU” refers to a player whose country of citizenship is outside of the European Union.
Countries currently in the EU include Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, and Sweden.
The figure drops to two non-EU players in the Second Division.
It is possible for non-EU players to take up citizenship of an EU country should they satisfy the citizenship criteria in those countries, whether that is through ancestry, residency, or naturalization.
For example, Real Madrid’s Brazilian trio Vinicius Jr, Eder Militao, and Rodrygo were each granted Spanish citizenship in 2022, meaning they were no longer required to be registered as non-EU players.
This came just before their contract extensions which saw a significant increase in their market value and salaries.
Those players’ acquisition of Spanish nationality was positive news for Real, who were then free to pursue more non-EU transfer targets in the market, be they from the UK, South America, or elsewhere outside of the EU.
What the rule creates, is an unbalanced mass of offers of non-EU players (As is the case for Ounahi and Attiat-Allah), compared to the demand that is strictly limited to each team.
These restrictions vary across competitions, Abou-Rayan explains “Ounahi’s transfer fee was 10 million euros, that amount he would make as a “Net-Salary” outside Europe where the restrictions don’t apply, he would make that in a year in the Saudi pro league.”
The agent said that when comparing 22-year-old Ounahi’s market price with Amrabat’s, who’s 26 and is an EU player since he was born in the Netherlands, the Fiorentina player currently sits at a market value of 30 million euros, 20 million euros more than the Casablanca-born midfielder.
Abou-Rayan stressed to Hespress EN that the current market value of Ounahi will surely increase after some years in Europe, where he will get both citizenship and experience, and may be looking for a more ambitious move that will put him among Europe’s elite.
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