Arsenal have joined a group of big European clubs in vying for the signature of Barcelona-B’s wonder kid Munir El Haddadi.
The Moroccan has attracted attention from the Gunners along with Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich, having made the move to the Spanish giants from fourth tier side Rayo Majadahonda in July, scoring 32 goals in just 29 appearances.
EL Haddadi is yet to put pen to paper on a new long-term contract with Barca, sparking rumours that he could follow in current Catalan star Cesc Fabregas in moving to England in search of top-level football.
Familiar Story
Fabregas moved to Arsenal in September 2003 after seeing his first team opportunities at the Nou Camp severely cut despite excelling in the youth sides. He made the breakthrough into the Gunners side and went on to captain the team under Arsene Wenger.
Fabregas made 303 appearances in Arsenal red, before moving back to Barcelona in 2011.
El Hadaddi can play as a centre-forward as well as his preferred position on the left wing, and idolises countryman Adel Taarabt as well as Barcelona talisman Lionel Messi. And El Hadaddi has claimed he refuses to turn his back on the Morrocan national team:
“Spain U-16 officials have already contacted me to join the team. But if I get a call up from Morocco I will surely respond because it is my country of origin,” he said.
Future
El Haddadi – who has hit 5 goals and provided 2 assists from just 6 games in the UEFA Youth League – is well known for his pace over a short distance as well as a deadly accurate shot, as shown by his chipped goal against Zaragoza’s youth side which has since gone viral.
He will join a number of Barcelona youngsters who made the trip from sunny Spain in an attempt to emulate Fabregas’ success. Jon Toral, Hector Bellerin, and Julio Pleguezuelo Selva are all currently on the Arsenal books, following recent moves from the La Liga leaders’ youth setup.
The 18-year-old could be deployed as cover up front in order to ease the load on Olivier Giroud, or in the youth side which so many Gunners legends have been made in the past.
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