Morocco attacker Yassir El Zabiri rediscovers scoring touch as Racing Santander move pays off

Moroccan international Yassir El Zabiri appears to have found the perfect environment to revive his career after making a strong start to life at Spanish side Racing Santander.

The young striker endured a difficult spell at Stade Rennais, where injuries, limited opportunities and competition for places restricted his progress. However, his move to newly promoted Racing Santander during the summer transfer window has given him the platform to rediscover his confidence, rhythm and natural scoring instinct.

El Zabiri arrived in Spain looking to write a new chapter in his career, and his early performances suggest he has found a setting that suits his style and abilities.

The Morocco U-20 World Cup winner enjoyed a memorable tournament with the national team, scoring the decisive goals in the final against Argentina and claiming the Silver Ball. His performances generated significant expectations ahead of his move to Rennes.

However, his time in Brittany failed to develop as expected. Injuries and a lack of consistency meant the talented forward spent a significant portion of the season away from the pitch, disrupting his momentum at an important stage of his development.

Determined to put those difficulties behind him, El Zabiri chose Spain as the next destination in his career.

At Racing Santander, the 20-year-old has looked more confident and involved. Rather than simply waiting inside the penalty area for opportunities, he has become increasingly active in the team’s overall play, pressing opponents, making runs, creating passing options and contributing to defensive work.

His movement and understanding of the game have allowed him to influence matches in several different ways, while his natural instinct in front of goal remains his biggest weapon.

A product of the Mohammed VI Football Academy, El Zabiri possesses the technical and tactical qualities to contribute beyond simply finishing chances. His ability to read situations in the final third allows him to make quick decisions and find dangerous positions.

He announced himself emphatically in his first start, scoring a hat-trick against Elche in the third round.

The three goals came in different circumstances and demonstrated his clinical finishing and intelligent positioning. His contribution proved decisive as Racing Santander secured a thrilling 3-2 victory.

The performance earned El Zabiri recognition in several Team of the Week selections and immediately placed him among the players attracting attention in the division.

He quickly followed up his Elche display with another decisive performance against Alavés.

El Zabiri scored Racing Santander’s equaliser in the 38th minute before completing the comeback by finding the winner in the 53rd minute.

The brace took his league tally to five goals and established him as one of the division’s most dangerous attacking players at this early stage of the campaign.

His performances have also put him in the conversation among the leading scorers, with his early numbers placing him in the same discussion as established attacking names such as Kylian Mbappé, Raphinha, Lamine Yamal and Sergio Camello.

Beyond the goals, El Zabiri’s confidence appears to be growing with every appearance. He is demanding possession more often, attacking open spaces with greater conviction and taking greater responsibility in decisive areas of the pitch.

His display against Alavés earned him the Man of the Match award, while his impressive start also saw him named Racing Santander’s Player of the Month for August.

The Moroccan’s resurgence has not gone unnoticed outside Spain either, with reports of interest from several European clubs, particularly from England.

For now, however, El Zabiri’s priority will be to maintain his level and establish himself consistently in Spanish football. The season remains long, and his strong start is only the beginning of his journey at Racing Santander.

After a frustrating period at Rennes, the Moroccan forward has regained three crucial ingredients for any striker: regular playing time, confidence and goals.

For El Zabiri, the move to Spain appears to have restored something that had been missing—a sense of freedom, purpose and belonging on the football pitch.