Ajax forward Zakaria El Azzouzi impressed on loan at FC Twente last season and will now look to score the goals to keep Sparta Rotterdam in the Eredivisie.
- By Michael Bell
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El Azzouzi joined the Ajax academy at the age of 13 and worked his way through the various age groups, impressing specifically in the U19’s during the 2014/15 season. Last summer the forward trained with the Ajax first team and made his debut in a friendly defeat to FC Nordsjælland before going on to make 11 appearances for Jong Ajax in the Eerste Divisie, scoring six goals.
In January, El Azzouzi was loaned to FC Twente, where he made his Eredivisie debut and impressed with four goals in thirteen appearances.
This summer, El Azzouzi returned to Ajax with FC Twente hoping to renew his loan deal, but he instead chose to sign for newly promoted Sparta Rotterdam.
El Azzouzi has dual nationality and is able to represent both Morocco and Netherlands. He represented Morocco at U17 level, but then switched to Netherlands, making two appearances for the U20’s,scoring twice. He was called up to the Morocco first team during the summer and seems to have chosen the African nation.
Style of play
El Azzouzi is a hard working, pacey striker who is always on the move and a constant threat to opposition defences. A strong finisher inside or outside of the box, El Azzouzi’s style of play has been likened to former Ajax forward Luis Suarez
What can we expect from El Azzouzi this season
Sparta Rotterdam will be looking to maintain their Eredivsie status and El Azzouzi will be crucial if they are to avoid relegation. He will be aiming to net at least 10 goals and impress Ajax enough to give him a chance in their first team next season.
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