AS Roma midfielder Neil El Aynaoui has publicly expressed his desire to play for Barcelona, adding another name to the list of players linked with a move to the Catalan club. The revelation comes as Barcelona are actively pursuing Atlético Madrid forward Julián Álvarez, who has also admitted his ambition to join the LaLiga champions.
Álvarez’s desire to move to Barcelona is well known, with the club having already seen a €100 million bid rejected by Atlético, who are holding firm on his €500 million release clause. The relationship between the two clubs is reportedly strained, making a deal difficult to negotiate.
El Aynaoui, 24, joined Roma from Lens last year for a fee of €23.5 million and has been a key performer for Morocco at the current World Cup. He previously lived in Barcelona as a child, fostering a lifelong affinity for the club. “As a child, I lived in Barcelona and was a Barcelona fan,” El Aynaoui stated, adding that he has always admired former Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta.
His father, Younes El Aynaoui, a former professional tennis player, echoed his son’s sentiments, stating that Neil would be “the happiest man in the world” if he were to play for Barcelona. While El Aynaoui’s dream is clear, his immediate prospects of joining Barcelona appear limited. The club currently has a well-stocked midfield and is more likely to sell a player in that position, potentially Marc Casado, rather than add to it this summer. However, a future opportunity could arise, potentially even alongside Álvarez should Barcelona overcome the obstacles in securing the Argentinian’s transfer.
Barcelona’s active pursuit of Álvarez and the expressed interest from players like El Aynaoui highlight the club's continued appeal despite recent financial challenges. The situation with Álvarez underscores the difficulties in navigating the current transfer market, while El Aynaoui’s dream move remains a possibility for the future.
