Sofyan Amrabat could make a sensational move on the final day of the transfer window, multiple Spanish sources have reported, including Mark. Barcelona comes in the first of hours of Tuesday with a bid for the 26-year-old Fiorentina midfielder, who impressed with his performance at the World Cup. Barça is betting on a rental deal with an optional purchase option and, according to the renowned sports newspaper, is promising.
Amrabat was one of the revelations of the world championship in Qatar, where he guided the Moroccan team to a surprising place in the semi-finals. Found there the Lions of the Atlas their Waterloo against France (2-0). After the tournament, the ball-conquering midfielder was included in the World Cup squad, which also included his teammates Noussair Mazraoui and Romain Saïss.
For Amrabat, Barcelona is a dream destination. The former player of Feyenoord and FC Utrecht spoke in December with Mark about his admiration for Barça coach Xavi, a childhood idol of his. “I used to watch a lot of legends like Xavi, Andrés Iniesta and also Zinedine Zidane, intelligent players,” said Amrabat. “Their moves between the lines were on another level. They won all the titles a player aspires to.”
Amrabat was already linked to Barcelona and Atlético Madrid during the World Cup. “It is a great honor to be associated with these kinds of clubs,” said the defensive midfielder. “But at the moment I play for Fiorentina. I have a lot of respect for my club, it’s a great team.” However, Amrabat does like a switch to Spain. “It is true that my brother Nordin has played for Málaga and Leganés. I have been there a lot. There are great fans and there is a great atmosphere. Maybe I will play there one day. I am 26 years old, nobody knows what the future will bring.”
Rumors about Amrabat were buzzing during the World Cup, but in January it was relatively quiet. The German Sky Sports reported in December that Amrabat must certainly cost more than thirty million euros. Fiorentina itself paid just under twenty million euros at the beginning of 2020 to take over the balafpakker from Hellas Verona. At the start of his career, Amrabat made the step from youth club FC Utrecht to Feyenoord, but was not entirely successful. After two years he moved to Club Brugge, where he found his way up again. Amrabat has now played 46 times for Morocco; he did not score in it. His contract with Fiorentina runs until mid-2024. He has now played 83 matches for that club, in which he scored once.