Yasser Zabiri’s Barcelona dream set aside as Racing Santander striker targets former heroes

Yasser Zabiri arrives in Barcelona on Wednesday with an opportunity to face the club he once dreamed of joining, having made a remarkable start to life in La Liga with Racing Santander.

The Morocco striker has scored five goals in his first five league appearances, making him one of the early surprises of the season before Racing’s eagerly anticipated meeting with Barcelona at Camp Nou.

According to Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo, the 21-year-old became a full Morocco international in May and has continued the progress that began with an outstanding performance at the 2025 U20 World Cup.

Zabiri won the Silver Ball at that tournament after scoring five goals, including two in the final against Argentina. His displays there helped launch an impressive next stage of his career in European football.

Born in Marrakech, Zabiri came through the Mohammed VI Academy before moving to Union Touarga. He joined Portuguese club Famalicao in August 2024 and signed a contract running until 2028.

His value rose considerably after his performances for Morocco at the youth World Cup, leading to a move to French club Rennes in February 2026 on a deal lasting until 2029.

Zabiri subsequently joined Racing Santander on a season-long loan, with the move designed to give him more playing time and experience in one of Europe’s major leagues.

When he arrived in Santander, Zabiri set himself the target of scoring 10 goals. He has already reached half that total after five rounds of matches and would have had six but for a goal being disallowed against Rayo Vallecano.

His current scoring rate is one goal every 56 minutes.

The forward’s movement has been a key part of his impact. He constantly looks to exploit space behind opposing defences, giving Racing’s creative players, including experienced midfielder Sergio Canales, a variety of options.

Racing manager Jose Alberto Lopez has praised Zabiri’s ability to identify openings behind central defenders and finish attacks effectively.

The club’s sporting director, Chima Aragon, previously described the striker as a player who “moves well into empty spaces and finishes attacks brilliantly”, explaining why Racing were keen to secure his services.

Wednesday’s fixture will be Zabiri’s first meeting with Barcelona in La Liga, but the occasion carries added significance beyond the sporting challenge.

The Morocco international has previously spoken about his ambition to play for the Catalan club, saying: “My goal is to play for Barcelona. I have loved Barcelona since I was a child.”

For now, Zabiri will attempt to cause problems for the side he once hoped to represent, while continuing a start that has quickly established him as one of the league’s most notable young forwards.