Young Moroccan striker YassirZabiri, now on loan at Racing Santander, confirmed his La Liga potential by scoring his seventh goal of the season, equaling the records of LamineYamal and KylianMbappé. After a 2023-24 season at Rennes where he played just six games, all as a substitute, the 21-year-old decided to leave in search of playing time. Since arriving at Santander, he has had a string of performances, including a hat-trick against Elche and a double against Alavés, before concluding his match against Valencia with a decisive goal, although Racing ultimately finished with a score of 2-2.
Upon his arrival, the Spanish club had not planned a purchase option, leaving Rennes with the possibility of recovering Zabiri at the end of the season. Stade Rennais, which invested nearly ten million euros to recruit him from Famalicão in February, therefore keeps control of his future. If the player continues on this path, the Breton club could reinstate him in 2027 with a more seasoned, confident and experienced player in La Liga. This development could also underline the regrets of the Marseille club, which had expressed its interest in Zabiri as early as January 2025 but failed to complete the transfer.
Zabiri said he wants to continue to progress and prove his potential in the long term. His recent career, notably his role as top scorer during the U20 World Cup in Morocco, has strengthened his profile and his appeal to European clubs. Racing Santander, meanwhile, have seen their striker become a key part of their attack, contributing to their ranking among La Liga's top scorers.
For Stade Rennais, Zabiri's situation represents an opportunity to strengthen its offensive arsenal in the long term. The club can consider recovering him with valuable experience acquired in one of the major European championships. As for OM, the decision not to pursue the transfer of Zabiri could be seen as a lack of vision, especially after seeing the meteoric progress of the Moroccan player. The next few weeks will be decisive in determining whether the loan will turn into a lucrative deal for Rennes or whether the player will continue to shine in Spain, thus consolidating his status as a young football prodigy.