Yassir Zabiri joins Mbappe and Yamal among Liga’s leading scorers

Yassir Zabiri’s remarkable start to life in Spain continued on Sunday as the Racing Santander forward scored the equaliser in a 1-1 draw with Valencia.

The 21-year-old joined the Cantabrian club during the summer on loan from Stade Rennais, but has needed little time to adapt to the Liga. His latest goal took his tally to seven in eight appearances and placed him alongside Kylian Mbappe and Lamine Yamal among the division’s leading scorers.

Only Raphinha, with 12 goals, is ahead of the Morocco international in the scoring standings.

Zabiri’s current run began with a hat-trick against Elche. He then scored twice against Alaves before finding the net at Camp Nou against FC Barcelona. His equaliser against Valencia added another significant contribution as Racing Santander continued to rely on his attacking form.

The forward’s performances have also earned him a place in the senior Morocco squad. His displays for the promoted side have made him one of the most prominent players in the team’s squad since arriving from France.

Racing Santander are now seeking to extend Zabiri’s stay beyond his loan spell. The Spanish club’s directors are considering opening discussions with their counterparts at Stade Rennais about a permanent transfer.

The club want to secure the future of a player who has quickly become an important part of their team. After eight matches, Zabiri has already established himself near the top of the Liga scoring chart, matching the totals of two of the competition’s best-known young forwards in Mbappe and Yamal.