Ounahi Hesitates to Join Spartak Moscow Move Despite €12 Million Deal
Despite Olympique de Marseille reportedly having accepted the Russian club's offer, the Moroccan midfielder remains cautious about the move as he weighs his options ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
Marseille has placed Ounahi on the transfer market after deciding not to reintegrate him into their squad for next season. The 24-year-old will return to France on July 1 following a successful loan spell in Greece, where he scored five goals and provided four assists in 25 matches.
However, Ounahi's playing time at Marseille remains uncertain, prompting the club to seek a suitable destination for the player.
Spartak Moscow has emerged as a serious suitor for Ounahi's services, submitting an offer worth approximately €12 million, which Marseille quickly accepted.
The Russian club wants to strengthen its midfield and has received permission to negotiate directly with the player, hoping to finalize the deal before the transfer window closes.
Despite the financial agreement between the clubs, media reports indicated that Ounahi appears reluctant to commit to the Russian project.
The timing of the potential transfer creates additional complications for Ounahi. Morocco will host the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, and the midfielder wants to secure his place in the national team squad.
Moving to the Russian league could make it more difficult for him to catch the attention of Morocco's coaching staff, particularly as he would be playing far from the traditional scouting networks that monitor North African players.
Ounahi faces a challenging decision between financial security and sporting ambition. While Spartak Moscow offers a substantial salary and the chance to compete in a competitive league, the midfielder seeks a project that aligns better with his international aspirations.
Marseille now waits for Ounahi to make his final decision. The French club has made its position clear by accepting Spartak's offer, but it cannot force its player to agree to the transfer as he prioritizes finding the right sporting environment over simply changing clubs for financial reasons. Tags: Atlas LionAzzedine OunahiFootballTransfer
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Morocco World
6 hours ago
- Morocco World
Ex‑Raja Casablanca President Mohamed Boudrika Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison
Rabat – A court in Casablanca sentenced former Raja Club Athletic president and parliamentarian, Mohamed Boudrika, to five years in prison today, SNRT News reported. The Casablanca Criminal Court also ordered Boudrika to pay MAD 664,000 in damages to the victims and barred him from issuing cheques for one year. Boudrika was found guilty of fraud, forgery, and issuing cheques without sufficient funds. Throughout the trial, he denied all charges, claiming that the investigating judge had relied only on the complainant's statements and had not presented hard evidence, according to reports. During the final hearing, Boudrika strongly defended himself and insisted there was no proof of wrongdoing aside from verbal allegations. In July 2024, Boudrika was arrested in Germany under an international warrant and later extradited to Morocco in April 2025, following approval from German authorities. He faced a one-year suspended prison sentence and a fine of MAD 232,500 in March 2024, following a case against him in absentia for issuing bad cheques. He has been held in pretrial detention at Oukacha prison in Casablanca since April 25, 2025. Charges include issuing bad cheques, fraud, forgery, and using administrative documents illegally. Born in Casablanca, Boudrika became Raja's president twice, first in 2012-2016, then re-elected in May 2023. Under his leadership, the club won domestic titles and reached the FIFA Club World Cup final in 2013, defeating international heavyweights. He was also a member of the Moroccan parliament for the RNI party and served as head of the Mers Sultan district council. His business ventures include real estate. He briefly left office following a building collapse in 2016 and controversy over selling overpriced World Cup tickets in 2022. After Morocco reached the semifinals, controversy erupted around the allocation of free tickets meant for Moroccan fans. Instead of being distributed fairly, many tickets allegedly made their way into the hands of private individuals and were resold at inflated prices. Boudrika, then a member of the Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF), was accused of distributing large numbers of tickets to his associates, party members, and close relatives.
Morocco World
6 hours ago
- Morocco World
Borussia Dortmund vs Monterrey: How to Watch & Score Prediction
Borussia Dortmund face Monterrey on Tuesday morning in the Round 16 of the Club World Cup at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. Kick-off is at 2 a.m. Moroccan time (GMT+1) and fans can catch the action live for free on the DAZN website and app. Let's talk Dortmund first. Niko Kovač's men cruised through Group F unbeaten, but let's be honest – it wasn't exactly a procession. A nervy draw against Fluminense followed by wins over Ulsan HD and Mamelodi Sundowns put them top, but they've yet to flex fully. Still, with Karim Adeyemi buzzing up front and young Jobe Bellingham pulling strings, there's plenty to like about the Germans. Add in Julian Brandt returning to the starting XI, and the Black and Yellow look dangerous – on paper, at least. But Monterrey aren't here for the tourism. Domènec Torrent's squad is riding high after stunning Urawa Red Diamonds 4–0 and drawing against River Plate and Inter in the group of death. Torrent's not afraid to tinker. Three games, three formations, and somehow it's working. Canales and Ocampos are expected to start the game after being rested in the last outing, and Ramos will be expected to marshal the backline. Dortmund may dominate possession, but Monterrey will happily sit back and wait for the counter. Expect them to play smart, strike on set pieces, and hope Ramos can hammer it home. Predicted Lineups Borussia Dortmund (3-4-2-1): Kobel; Couto, Anton, Bensebaini; Ryerson, Groß, Bellingham, Svensson; Brandt, Adeyemi; Guirassy Monterrey (3-5-2): Andrada; Medina, Ramos, Guzmán; Chavez, Deossa, Rodríguez, Corona, Arteaga; Canales, Berterame Prediction: The Rayados will fight tooth and nail, Ramos will likely throw an elbow or two, and Canales will create something slick. But in the end, Dortmund's depth and pace will wear them down – but it's going to be tight. Borussia Dortmund 2–1 Monterrey
Morocco World
10 hours ago
- Morocco World
Real Madrid vs Juventus: When, How to Watch & Score Predictions
Real Madrid take on Juventus today in the Round of 16 of the FIFA Club World Cup at Miami's Hard Rock Stadium in Florida. Kick-off is at 8 p.m. Moroccan time (GMT+1) and fans can catch the action live for free on the DAZN website and app. Los Blancos, under Xabi Alonso, have grown into the tournament. They stumbled in the opening group stage game with a 1–1 draw against Al Hilal but quickly hit their stride, beating both Pachuca 3–1 and Salzburg 3–0 respectively. The football is fluid, Vinícius Júnior is on fire, and the biggest headline is about Kylian Mbappé who could finally make his Club World Cup debut. He's fit, available, and rumoured to feature off the bench. Juventus, meanwhile, have been quite unpredictable. Igor Tudor's squad smashed Al Ain 5–0, made light work of Wydad, then got walloped 5–2 by Man City. That last one came with half the team rested, so let's not overreact. The return of Kenan Yildiz, their young breakout star winger, and Randal Kolo Muani should give Madrid something to think about. But Juve must get their defensive act together if they want to avoid being ripped apart in transition. Injuries aren't helping. Nicolò Savona is out. Federico Gatti's got a fever. And Weah and Mbangula are still out of the matchday team sheet after refusing to join Nottingham Forest. Madrid, on the other hand, look sharp and fully focused. Xabi Alonso is treating this tie as the first big test since he replaced the Italian maestro Carlo Ancelotti. And given the midfield they're rolling with—Valverde, Bellingham, Arda Güler — they've got the legs and the guile. However, there's still a chance the match could be suspended. Reports suggest a potential electrical storm looming. If it strikes, play would be halted for at least 30 minutes – a major disruption for players, coaches, and fans alike. During the Chelsea vs Benfica clash, the game was stopped for nearly two hours, killing the flow of the game and draining the players' momentum. Predicted Lineups Real Madrid (3-5-2): Courtois; Rüdiger, Tchouaméni, Huijsen; Alexander-Arnold, Valverde, Bellingham, Arda Güler, Fran García; Vinícius Júnior, Gonzalo Juventus (3-4-2-1): Di Gregorio; Kalulu, Rugani, Kelly; McKennie, Locatelli, Thuram, Cambiaso; Conceição, Yildiz; Kolo Muani Prediction Vinícius continues to dazzle. Mbappé sneaks in a cameo. Yildiz gives Juve hope, but Madrid's midfield wins the war. A close one but MWN expects the Spaniards to march on to the quarters. Verdict: Real Madrid 2–1 Juventus Tags: Club World CupJuventusKylian MbappeReal MadridVinicius Jr
