Yassir Zabiri revives his career in Spain after difficult spell at Rennes

Moroccan striker Yassir Zabiri has enjoyed an impressive turnaround in Spain, where his goalscoring form for Racing Santander has brought him back into the spotlight after a frustrating spell at French club Rennes.

The forward, who joined Racing Santander on loan from Stade Rennais, has emerged as one of the standout performers in the 2026 to 2027 Spanish league campaign.

His performances have attracted attention in Morocco and earned him a place in the national team squad during the latest international break.

Zabiri has scored seven goals in the Spanish league, placing him among the competition’s leading scorers. He shares second place in the standings with Sergio Camello of Rayo Vallecano, Lamine Yamal of Barcelona and Kylian Mbappe of Real Madrid.

His scoring rate has been particularly impressive, with the Moroccan averaging a goal every 68 minutes. That return has helped establish him among the most productive forwards in Europe’s leading domestic leagues.

His performances have also earned individual recognition. Zabiri was named La Liga’s best under-23 player for September and received a perfect 10 out of 10 rating from football statistics website Sofascore for his display against Elche on matchday three.

Zabiri makes the most of his Spanish opportunity

The 2026 to 2027 season has marked a significant change in fortunes for Zabiri, who struggled to secure regular playing time after joining Rennes from Portuguese side Famalicao.

The French club reportedly paid 10 million euros to sign the striker, but he found opportunities limited during the second half of last season. He made six appearances in Ligue 1 but accumulated only 42 minutes on the pitch.

That lack of playing time prevented him from making a meaningful impact, and he finished his spell without scoring or providing an assist.

Seeking more opportunities to develop, Zabiri moved to Racing Santander on loan during the summer transfer window. The decision has proved beneficial, allowing him to play more regularly and demonstrate his finishing ability.

His current form has also strengthened his position in the Moroccan national team setup. During the latest international break, he received a call-up and was considered the second option at centre-forward behind Ismaël Saibari.

Rennes will continue to monitor his progress, with Zabiri contracted to the French club until 2029. His loan agreement reportedly does not include an option for Racing Santander to make the move permanent.

From Mohammed VI Academy to European football

Zabiri’s development began at Morocco’s Mohammed VI Football Academy, which has helped produce several players who have progressed into professional football.

He left the academy in 2024 to join Union Touarga, where he continued his development in the Moroccan league. During that spell, he scored three goals and registered one assist in 11 appearances.

Later in 2024, he moved to Portugal to join Famalicao in a transfer reported to be worth 600,000 euros. He went on to make 20 appearances for the club, scoring seven goals.

His reputation grew further during the Under-20 World Cup, where he played a key role for Morocco’s youth team. Zabiri scored five goals and provided one assist in seven matches, including a brace in the final against Argentina.

Those performances added to his growing reputation as one of Morocco’s promising attacking talents.

Now finding his scoring touch in Spain, Zabiri is beginning to fulfil the potential he showed at youth level. His progress at Racing Santander has offered him a fresh opportunity to establish himself in European football and strengthen his claims for a more prominent role with Morocco.