Manchester City have set their sights on 17-year-old Ajax midfielder Abdallah Wazaan, who recently chose to reject a move to Spanish giants Real Madrid. The young Moroccan is enjoying a vibrant start to his first full season in senior football, already garnering attention from multiple European clubs.
Wazaan, who has progressed through Ajax's academy, is gradually establishing himself in the first team. So far this season, he has featured in ten Eredivisie matches, scoring twice.
Additionally, he has played in two UEFA Conference League games, where he also managed to find the back of the net.
His standout performance came against Atalanta, where he netted one of the goals, helping his team secure a 2-0 victory.
Turned down Real Madrid for Ajax
Wazaan's journey could have taken a very different direction.
He was previously on the verge of joining Real Madrid with a deal almost agreed, but at the last moment, he opted to stay in the Netherlands.
Instead, he decided to continue his development at Ajax, where he anticipated gaining more opportunities to showcase his talents at the senior level.
Judging by the start of the current season, it seems he made a wise decision. Wazaan is gaining valuable playing time and is quickly becoming one of the most discussed young talents at Ajax.
Manchester City faces competition
Manchester City are closely monitoring Wazaan’s progress, but they will face competition from Juventus.
The Old Lady has also expressed interest in the midfielder, viewing him as a promising addition for the future.
Moreover, Wazaan’s contract situation adds to the intrigue; he is tied to Ajax until 2028, but the club has yet to secure long-term assurances against the possibility of his departure.
This could complicate Ajax’s negotiating position should leading European clubs decide to make concrete offers.
Despite his young age, Wazaan has already made an appearance for the Moroccan national team.
At this stage, however, we are only seeing interest from Manchester City and Juventus, with no official bids or advanced negotiations reported.
For Wazaan, gaining playing time remains paramount. Having already established himself at Ajax, moving to a bigger club might significantly increase competition for a starting spot.
