Chelsea showing interest in 21-year-old Barcelona winger

Among all the Barcelona players who are currently on loan elsewhere, Abde Ezzalazouli has been arguably the most successful.

Joining Osasuna on a season-long loan deal, the winger has impressed onlookers with his dribbling prowess this season. His performances at the 2022 FIFA World Cup did not go unnoticed either, as he played his part in Morocco reaching the semifinal stage.

In light of his success, Osasuna are keen on extending Abde’s spell at the club. But according to Mundo Deportivo, that could be an improbable proposition for the Pamplona outfit, if not impossible.

This is because Barcelona are well aware of Abde’s potential. Coach Xavi Hernandez was already impressed by the youngster’s drive and commitment during the pre-season but ultimately had to sanction his loan, due to the arrival of Raphinha.

Due to Xavi’s trust in the player, Barcelona did not add a permanent purchase clause in the loan agreement with Osasuna. As a result, the player is set to return to Camp Nou at the end of the season.

As per the report, Chelsea have recently sounded out the possibility of signing Abde next season. The Premier League giants have been highly active in the transfer market lately, bringing in a series of quality stars during the January transfer window.

Their search has not come to an end either as they are looking for players that are similar to Christian Pulisic, who will likely be sold in the summer. That is where Abde comes into the fray, as the young Moroccan has impressed onlookers with his dribbling prowess in the final third.

However, the decision on Abde’s future will be on Barcelona this summer. The Catalans are destined to receive an offer for the Moroccan, but whether or not they will sanction his permanent exit, in exchange for a quick profit, remains to be seen.

A lot may depend on how Barcelona approach the market. Their star player Ansu Fati has been linked with an exit, whereas the club have shown the desire to bring in Atletico Madrid star Yannick Carrasco. So it will be interesting to see how things pan out in the coming months.