Barcelona are determined to keep Abde Ezzalzouli despite reported interest from Leeds United and Premier League duo Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace.
The silky Morocco international might not have set the world alight in Barcelona’s first two La Liga fixtures of the new campaign, but the fact that he is featuring at all seems to suggest that Blaugrana boss Xavi Hernandez is envisaging a big role for Abde Ezzalzouli over the next few months.
According to Foot Mercato, Crystal Palace had enquired about the 21-year-old’s availability. There was also interest from Nottingham Forest and a Leeds United side who need bodies through the door and fast to boost their wafer-thin squad (Sport).
Abde, scorer of six goals during an impressive loan spell at Osasuna in 2022/23, feels like a potentially inspired addition to Daniel Farke’s roster. Especially if the wantaway Everton target Wilfried Gnonto gets his wish before next week’s deadline.
Barcelona keen to keep Premier League target Abde Ezzalzouli
But, taking to Twitter amid a spike in speculation regarding Abde, Fabrizio Romano insists that Barcelona have no plans to accept any offers between now and September 1st.
“Barcelona’s decision has not changed,” Romano writes. “Abde won’t leave despite approaches and interest from multiple clubs. More than four clubs asked about the potential conditions of the deal.
“(Their approaches have been) rejected. Xavi wants him to stay.”
Breaking into the first-team picture back in 2021, Barcelona legend turned head coach Xavi labelled Abde a ‘spectacular’ talent at the time.
Crystal Palace, meanwhile, appear intent on bringing another exciting young wide player to Selhurst Park after the departure of Wilfried Zaha. Palace are reportedly bidding for Sporting Lisbon’s 19-year-old Ghanaian Abdul Fatawu Issahaku with Abde unlikely to join forces with Roy Hodgson in the English capital.
“He’s a special player,” Abde’s former Osasuna boss Jagoba Arraste beamed. “He is different in every way. He is a super affectionate guy, and all the people love him a lot.
“We cannot limit that talent or tell him ‘you have to do this, this and that’. No. Because he has so much talent, our job is to create the best ecosystem for him so that he receives (the ball) in areas with little traffic and can play one-v-one.
“Generate situations so that he can shine.”
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