Ziyech leaves Botafogo waiting after Brazil move reaches final stages

Hakim Ziyech has put a proposed move to Botafogo on hold at the last moment, despite having agreed terms with the Brazilian club and recording a presentation video in their shirt.

The 33-year-old Moroccan had also arranged a flight to Rio de Janeiro for Sunday, with his departure from Wydad Casablanca appearing increasingly likely. However, according to Globo Esporte, Ziyech asked for time to reconsider after speaking by telephone to fellow Moroccan Zakaria Labyad, who currently plays for Corinthians.

Ziyech is reported to have raised concerns about the quality of pitches in Brazil following the conversation. Labyad, who recently suffered a serious knee injury, is understood to have discussed his own experience of playing in the Brazilian league.

The exchange was not necessarily negative overall, but it appears to have been enough to make Ziyech question the proposed move.

Botafogo have since tried to reassure the former Chelsea player. Several members of the squad are believed to have contacted him, including Danilo Pereira Da Silva, who worked with Ziyech at Ajax, and Alex Telles.

The transfer has not been formally abandoned. Brazil’s transfer window closes on 11 September, leaving Botafogo with time to try to persuade Ziyech to complete the deal.

The uncertainty comes as the winger’s position at Wydad Casablanca continues to deteriorate.

Ziyech had initially hoped to remain with the Moroccan club, but his relationship with the new leadership has worsened significantly. He was left out of a friendly match and then excluded from the team’s pre-season camp in Agadir.

Following his refusal to accept a reduction in salary, Ziyech was reportedly asked to train on his own. He later criticised Wydad president Ibrahim El Asri publicly, accusing him of lying.

The dispute has also moved into the legal sphere. Ziyech brought in a bailiff to formally document the circumstances surrounding his exclusion from the squad.

Against that background, a move to Botafogo appeared to offer the player a clear route away from a club where he now seems to be far removed from the sporting plans.

Ziyech began his senior career at Heerenveen before establishing himself at Ajax, where he became one of Europe’s most highly regarded attacking midfielders. He subsequently played for Chelsea, Galatasaray and Al-Duhail before returning to Morocco.

The Brazil move would have represented one of the most unexpected changes of direction in his career. A presentation clip had already been prepared, an agreement had been reached and his journey had been organised, only for the phone call with Labyad to reopen the question of whether he would move to Botafogo.

Ziyech is a Morocco international with six caps and is now seeking a new challenge for the closing stages of his playing career.

If the reported conversation is confirmed to have been decisive, Labyad may not be the most popular figure in Brazil. For now, however, Botafogo remain hopeful that their efforts to convince Ziyech will succeed before the transfer deadline.