Declan Rice, who many Arsenal fans want to be the club’s captain rather than Martin Ødegaard, is nowhere near within the financial reach of Barcelona, but someone who is similar in style of play and power probably is.
Roma are aware that they have one of the midfielders with the most potential in African and European football in their possession. Neil El Aynaoui has established himself in just a few months as one of the great gems of the Italian club, attracting interest from several giants across the continent.
The comparison with Declan Rice is certainly real, which he also shows in the Africa Cup of Nations where he shines for Morocco, often together with the championship’s top scorer and Real Madrid’s forgotten star Brahim Diaz.
Read: No longer possible to hold the World Cup in the USA
His recent performances, especially on the international stage, have only reinforced that feeling. At 24 years old, the Moroccan midfielder is already seen as a player for both the present and the future, capable of making his mark on the elite.
Neil El Aynaoui, a strategic coup for Roma
Neil El Aynaoui arrived in Rome last summer for around 23 million euros. It was not a high-profile signing, but a very thoughtful investment from the Italian club, who had been following his development for a while and had full confidence in his growth potential.
Since his arrival, the midfielder has left very positive impressions. He stands out with his physical strength, his ability to cover the pitch and his tactical intelligence, qualities that allow him to perform well both defensively and in build-up. It is no coincidence that he is already being compared to Declan Rice, one of the most complete midfielders in the current Italian league.
Roma sees El Aynaoui as a cornerstone on which to build its medium-term project. His age, personality and quick adaptation to Italian football reinforce the idea that the club made a completely successful investment just a few months ago.
Read: Brilliant €120 million signing served to Liverpool
Star for Morocco in the Africa Cup of Nations
The international stage has further increased his value. Neil El Aynaoui is a key player for the Moroccan national team in the Africa Cup of Nations, a tournament in which the North African team has performed excellently and secured a place in the final, where they will face Senegal.
His performances in the championship have been outstanding. The midfielder has shown personality in highly demanding matches, led the team’s balance and shown a maturity beyond his age. His ability to physically dominate and direct the game has been crucial to Morocco’s progress to the tournament’s final.
This level of achievement has not gone unnoticed. Talent scouts from several European clubs keep a close eye on each of his matches, aware that El Aynaoui has established himself as one of the most promising African midfielders at the moment.
Roma celebrate his growth, but they also know that such performances increase outside interest and complicate any long-term retention if offers from top clubs come with significant financial backing.
Barcelona, is watching closely, but faces serious challenges
Among the clubs that follow Neil El Aynaoui’s development closely is Barcelona. At Camp Nou, they value his profile highly, as he fits the idea of reinforcing the midfield with a physical, tactically intelligent player with potential for many years.
In Barcelona’s sports management, they are aware that he is a player who can make a difference both now and in the future. The comparisons with Declan Rice are not small and reinforce the perception that signing El Aynaoui would be a strategic move.
However, the deal is extremely complicated. The amount Roma invested just a few months ago increases the asking price significantly, far above the original 23 million euros. In addition, the growing interest from several Premier League clubs, with greater financial power, makes any Barcelona attempt even more complicated.
The Catalan club is facing financial challenges that require the prioritization of very specific and well-structured operations. In this scenario, competing with the English giants does not seem easy for a player who is at the height of his career.
At the moment, Barcelona are observing, evaluating and collecting reports, but they acknowledge that convincing Roma and the player himself would require a significant operation. Neil El Aynaoui has all the potential to become one of the big names on the market in the coming years, and his future seems destined to be in the elite of European football for a long time.
