Transferred this summer from Lens to AS Roma for 25 million euros, Neil El Aynaoui asserts his ambition both at club level and with the national team.
The 24-year-old Franco-Moroccan midfielder, after shining with the Moroccan U23s, is now clearly opening the door to integration with the Atlas Lions, with the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) organized in Morocco in sight. In a recent interview, El Aynaoui emphasized that he is focusing first on his performances with his new Italian club, suggesting that a future call-up to the national team could come quickly.
Neil El Aynaoui has stood out for his high work rate, strategic positioning between the lines, and his ability to quickly recover and restart play. Trained at Nancy and later Lens, he gradually gained tactical and offensive maturity, impressing with his precision and involvement in counter-pressing phases. His technical qualities and game intelligence earned him early praise and a major transfer to Serie A this summer, an important step in his career.
Despite some absences due to an injury last June, El Aynaoui is expected to return to the national team, notably for a training camp scheduled in September, where he will be alongside other players such as Souffian El Karouani. This call-up would be a significant recognition of his potential, and AFCON 2025 could mark his official debut wearing the Atlas Lions jersey, a motivating goal for the player and an asset for the Moroccan team.
In the meantime, Neil El Aynaoui is working hard in Rome to gain consistency and help his club progress, while keeping in mind his dream of shining at the biggest continental event in Morocco. His transfer to AS Roma is not only a personal challenge but also a gateway to a promising international career. Moroccan supporters are now eagerly awaiting to see this talent assert himself on the big European and African stages.
