Morocco midfielder Neil El Aynaoui, a standout player at the World Cup, has attracted interest from Spanish giants Barcelona and Real Madrid. The 24-year-old has started all three of Morocco's matches, helping his team advance to the Round of 32 while maintaining an unbeaten record.
According to Spanish media reports, scouts from both Barcelona and Real Madrid are closely watching El Aynaoui, currently playing for Italian side AS Roma. Should a move to one of Spain's big two occur, the player would prefer Barcelona, as revealed by his father in an interview.
Born in Nancy, France, El Aynaoui spent part of his childhood in Barcelona until the age of 11, explaining his support for the Catalan club. His father, former professional tennis player Younes El Aynaoui, stated, "My son, he’s a Barca fan. Neil lived in Barcelona until he was 11. He would be the happiest person in the world if he played there one day."
El Aynaoui's career started at Nancy, where he broke into the first team before moving to RC Lens in 2023 for €600k. Two years later, he transferred to Roma for €23.5 million. His Serie A season was modest with 1,703 minutes played.
Given Barcelona's midfield reinforcement needs, El Aynaoui could provide added quality. The competition among 2026 World Cup performers is stiff, but his connection to Barcelona stands out among potential targets.
