Osasuna tracking Abde situation with winger open to leaving Barça still

A busy end to the transfer window awaits Abde Ezzalzouli. FC Barcelona's sporting management and Xavi Hernandez's coaching staff want the Moroccan winger to be part of the squad for the 2023/24 season and this is what they told him last week, but the lack of minutes against Villarreal has raised doubts among the player's camp.

At 21 years of age, the attacker's absolute priority is to play regularly and, after the emergence of Lamine Yamal, it is not clear that he will be able to do so at the Catalan giants.

Although it seemed that the meeting a few days ago would settle the debate about his future, Abde does not want the great progression he experienced last season to be cut short.

The match against Villarreal, in which Lamine, Ferran Torres, Ansu Fati and even Fermín López were used ahead of him, has reopened the file. As we have been reporting in the last few hours, he has several proposals on the table and does not want to settle for the role of revulsive in the matches against closed rivals.

Abde's role has gradually reduced in the first three league games. He played 45 minutes at the Coliseum Alfono Pérez, 22 minutes in the opening game at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys against Cádiz and, as we have already mentioned, he did not leave the bench at La Cerámica. Or rather, he did, to do warm-up exercises when Villarreal took the lead in the second half (3-2), but the rapid comeback made Xavi opt to populate the centre of the pitch to control the ball and avoid a mess.

Special visit

Chance, which sometimes reminds us that it is capricious, has decided that Barça, just over 24 hours after the close of the summer transfer window, will visit the stadium where Abde has enjoyed himself most as a professional footballer, El Sadar.

Last season, with Club Atlético Osasuna, the Moroccan scored six goals and provided two assists in 34 appearances. He was unquestionable for Jagoba Arrasate, played in the final of the Copa del Rey and his good performances in Pamplona allowed him to experience the Qatar 2022 World Cup, where his national team was the revelation of the tournament and finished fourth against all odds.

The good memories they have of him in Pamplona, moreover, has made it inevitable that Osasuna's technical secretariat has activated the alert and is keeping a close eye on his situation. According to 'Diario de Navarra', the 'Rojillo' will try to negotiate his return in case Barcelona are open to a loan.

It is clear from Navarra that this possibility is very complex, as the Catalan club will prioritise a transfer if the player asks to leave. Even so, the club's directors are keeping an eye on the slightest option of getting a luxury reinforcement for Arrasate's squad at the last minute, who would be delighted to have him back

The possible arrival of Joao Felix, the future of Ansu Fati, the role of Lamine Yamal... There are many circumstances that will condition Barça's position with Abde in the last days of the market. Xavi has been very clear and has publicly acknowledged that he wants him in his project, especially after the departure of Ousmane Dembélé, but no scenario can be ruled out.