Morocco youngster Yasser El Zabiri making waves in Spain

Moroccan international Yasser El Zabiri is making headlines in Spanish football after an impressive start to life at Racing Santander, with the forward reportedly dreaming of one day wearing the famous colours of FC Barcelona.

The 20-year-old has quickly established himself as one of the exciting attacking talents to watch in Spain, scoring eight goals in his first 10 league appearances for Racing Santander to emerge as a contender in the race for the La Liga top-scorer award.

His remarkable form comes just a year after he inspired Morocco to victory at the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile, where he scored five goals, including a brace in the final against Argentina as the Atlas Cubs secured a historic 2-0 triumph.

According to a report by Agence France-Presse (AFP), El Zabiri’s rise has been built on years of development, discipline and a clear ambition to reach the highest level of European football.

The Moroccan forward continued his impressive run on Saturday, scoring six minutes before the end of regulation time to secure Racing Santander a 2-1 victory over Espanyol and take his league tally to eight goals for the season.

His performances have attracted attention as he competes with some of the biggest attacking names in Spanish football, including French superstar Kylian Mbappé and teenage sensation Lamine Yamal.

However, beyond his growing reputation and goalscoring exploits, El Zabiri has a long-standing ambition to play for Barcelona, a dream he has carried since childhood.

“I have been a true Barcelona fan since I was young; it has been my childhood dream to play for them,” he said about a year before his recent rise to prominence in Spain.

From Mohammed VI Academy to World Cup glory

Born and raised in Marrakesh, El Zabiri began his football journey at the Mohammed VI Football Academy, one of Morocco’s leading talent-development centres.

He joined the academy’s Marrakesh centre at the age of seven before moving to its main headquarters in Salé five years later. His admission at 12, a year earlier than the standard entry age, reflected the exceptional qualities identified in him by the academy’s technical staff.

Mahmoud El Sebki, one of his supervisors at the academy, told AFP that El Zabiri stood out from an early age because of his technical ability, physical coordination and natural instinct for scoring goals.

He was particularly impressed by the youngster’s ability to execute difficult finishes, including volleys and half-volleys, with remarkable ease.

Nasser Larguet, the academy’s founder and former director, also highlighted the importance of El Zabiri’s family background in shaping his career, pointing to the values of respect, discipline and hard work instilled in him by his father.

According to Larguet, the young forward was always enthusiastic about football and willing to listen to the advice of his coaches, qualities that helped him develop both on and off the pitch.

El Zabiri took another important step in his career in the summer of 2024 when he moved to Portugal to join Famalicão, beginning his journey into European football.

His breakthrough on the international stage followed at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile in October 2025, where he played a decisive role in Morocco’s historic triumph.

The forward scored five goals during the tournament, including both goals in the final against Argentina. His performances helped establish him as one of the standout prospects of his generation.

Following the final, El Zabiri famously responded to what he described as provocations from the Argentine players by saying, “We ate them up,” a remark that captured the confidence and determination of the Moroccan side.

Larguet, who was working with the Saudi Arabian national team during the tournament, also recalled an emotional reunion with the forward in Chile. El Zabiri’s father sent him a photograph of the two together when the youngster was only eight years old, offering a reminder of how far the player had progressed.

Rennes struggles lead to Racing Santander breakthrough

El Zabiri’s World Cup success attracted interest from several European clubs, and he joined French side Rennes in February 2026.

However, his time in France did not produce the breakthrough many had anticipated, with the forward struggling to establish himself in the team.

Larguet suggested that the experience highlighted the importance of choosing a club whose playing style and attacking options suit a player’s strengths.

He pointed to Esteban Lepaul as an example of a forward whose characteristics were better suited to Rennes’ approach, adding that El Zabiri may have become frustrated by his limited opportunities.

The former academy director believed the decision to seek a loan move or another environment was necessary to ensure the youngster continued developing rather than allowing his progress to stall.

That change of scenery brought El Zabiri to Racing Santander, where he has enjoyed a remarkable resurgence.

The Moroccan has adapted quickly to Spanish football, scoring consistently and demonstrating the finishing ability that first attracted attention during his formative years at the Mohammed VI Academy.

His impact has been so significant that he even found the net against Barcelona at Camp Nou during their sixth-round meeting, although Racing Santander suffered a heavy 7-2 defeat.

El Sebki believes the forward’s rapid adaptation has been a major factor behind his success in Spain. He explained that the academy’s emphasis on technical development prepares its graduates particularly well for leagues such as Spain and Portugal, where technical quality plays a significant role.

Barcelona dream remains firmly in sight

Despite his impressive form, El Zabiri understands that securing a move to Barcelona would require sustained progress and further development.

Before his recent success in Spain, the forward told beIN Sports that he had followed Barcelona closely during the era of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suárez.

He acknowledged that playing for the Catalan giants remained a distant ambition at the time, insisting that his immediate priority was to perform for his current club.

His former mentors say the dream has been consistent throughout his development. El Sebki recalled that during individual meetings at the academy, El Zabiri repeatedly spoke about his admiration for Barcelona and his desire to compete in La Liga.

Larguet, meanwhile, believes the ambition could eventually become reality if the forward continues to improve and remains realistic about the level required to compete with Barcelona’s attacking players.

He advised the youngster to match his ambitions with hard work, reach the highest possible level of performance and carefully study how Barcelona’s forwards operate, particularly their movement and interaction with midfielders.

For now, El Zabiri’s immediate task is to maintain his impressive scoring form at Racing Santander and prove that his recent performances are not a temporary surge.

His journey from the Mohammed VI Football Academy to World Cup glory and now the Spanish league illustrates the progress he has made in a relatively short period.

With eight league goals already to his name and his childhood ambition providing additional motivation, the Moroccan forward is beginning to attract the kind of attention that could shape the next stage of his career.

Barcelona remains the ultimate dream, but El Zabiri’s immediate performances in Spain may prove crucial in determining how close he can come to turning that ambition into reality.