Eight goals in ten matches: Barcelona target Yassir Zabiri, Rennes' Moroccan gem

Yassir Zabiri has established himself as one of La Liga’s breakout stars this autumn: the 21-year-old Moroccan striker, on loan from Stade Rennais to Racing Santander, has scored eight goals in ten league matches since the start of the season.

These performances have reportedly caught the attention of FC Barcelona. According to Spanish media outlet Fichajes, the Catalan club’s sporting director Deco is interested in the player’s profile and is considering bringing him to Camp Nou.

The deal looks complicated, however. Zabiri belongs to Stade Rennais, which is not looking to sell and could demand a sum significantly higher than the player’s current valuation of €20 million. The Breton club, which agreed to loan him to Spain to give him playing time, has no obligation to sell its striker in the next transfer window.

A Morocco international, Zabiri joined Rennes before being sent on loan to Santander this summer to accelerate his development. His Liga statistics have since exceeded all expectations, making him one of the most prolific scorers in the championship at this stage of the season.

Barcelona’s interest remains to be confirmed, and no formal approach has been reported at this stage. But if Zabiri maintains this pace, Rennes could quickly find itself managing approaches from several major European clubs.