Why Morocco’s En-Nesyri missed Al-Ittihad’s final friendlies in Spain

Moroccan striker Youssef En-Nesyri missed Al-Ittihad’s final two pre-season matches in Spain because of fatigue rather than transfer speculation, according to reports in Saudi Arabia.

The forward was absent on Thursday as Al-Ittihad concluded their training camp in Marbella with a 4-2 defeat by Real Mallorca and a 2-2 draw against Malaga.

En-Nesyri had featured in the club’s previous friendlies against South Africa’s Orlando Pirates and Spanish side Las Palmas, raising questions over his absence from the final matches of the tour.

Coaching staff opted to rest Moroccan forward

Saudi newspaper Al-Riyadh reported that Al-Ittihad’s technical director, Jens Wissing, decided to leave the Morocco international out of both games after the player complained of fatigue.

En-Nesyri was not the only player rested, with Abdulrahman Al-Aboud, Farha Al-Shamrani and Marwan Al-Sahafi also missing the fixtures for the same reason.

The decision comes as Al-Ittihad continue preparations for the new season following an intensive training programme in Spain.

Transfer rumours continue to swirl

En-Nesyri’s absence has coincided with increasing speculation over his future at the Saudi club.

The Moroccan striker has been linked with a move away from Al-Ittihad, with reports suggesting that several clubs are interested in securing his signature.

Questions have also been raised about his place in the squad amid reports that coach Jens Wissing remains unconvinced by the 28-year-old’s performances.

Despite the uncertainty, there has been no official indication from Al-Ittihad that the club intends to part ways with the forward before the start of the season.

Mixed results in pre-season

En-Nesyri enjoyed a productive outing against Orlando Pirates, scoring in Al-Ittihad’s 3-2 victory over the South African side.

However, the former Sevilla striker was unable to find the net in the team’s 2-1 win over Las Palmas before being rested for the final two matches of the Spanish training camp.

With the new campaign fast approaching, the fitness and future of one of Morocco’s leading forwards will continue to be closely monitored by football fans across Africa.