L’Equipe: Aït-Boudlal on the Radar of Europe’s Giants
At 19, Moroccan international Abdelhamid Aït-Boudlal, a central defender on the radar of Europe’s top clubs, is on the rise at Stade Rennais, as reported by L’Equipe on Sunday.
In an article titled “The Rising Defender at Rennes,” the French sports newspaper highlights Aït-Boudlal’s outstanding performance on Saturday night against Monaco, where he stood out with a remarkable run that paved the way for Rennais’ victory (4-1).
A pure product of the Mohammed VI Football Academy, the young player is establishing himself at the start of the season within the Rennais defense, which he forms alongside Jérémy Jacquet and Lilian Brassier. “It was during a series of friendly matches in Europe that he caught the eye of numerous clubs, from Rennes to Liverpool, including Manchester City, Chelsea, Copenhagen, and Atlético Madrid,” L’Equipe notes.
Highlighting the qualities of the Stade Rennais central defender in Ligue 1, his coach Habib Beye noted that “when he has 30 meters ahead of him, there’s nothing that can stop him.”
“If he can bring that added depth to our play, we won’t hesitate to utilize it. We are working on that aspect,” the coach stated, emphasizing that the Breton club had already benefited successfully from the services of another former Mohammed VI Academy player, Nayef Aguerd.
Having been loaned to Amiens to gain experience in Ligue 2, Aït-Boudlal’s strengths include a notable aggressiveness, speed, solid technique, and a strong personality. The article notes that he has quickly transformed his performance on the pitch since last summer.
“His rise could very well coincide with the upcoming AFCON in Morocco,” the article points out, stating that an extension of his contract with Rennes, which currently runs until 2028, is under consideration.
