Azeddine Ounai spent a year in Greece playing on loan from Marseille with Panathinaikos, but his immense talent and his performance in the second half of the season earned him the universal admiration of the fans. So much so that everyone would love to see him wearing their team’s jersey.
But how feasible is that? The answer, based on the information available right now, is “not at all.” You see, when Girona agreed with Marseille to sign him for 6 million euros, it included a €25 million buyout clause in the Moroccan player’s contract.
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As one can easily understand, this amount is prohibitive for all the major Greek clubs, even if… it drops to 20 million. The club shows no inclination to do so, as it wants to recoup the financial losses it incurred from its relegation to the Secunda Division.
Decision Time
The player himself wishes to remain in a major league, such as the Spanish league, with reports citing interest from Barcelona and Real Madrid, while there have also been rumors linking him to Betis, Real Sociedad, Villarreal, and Celta. However, it is not known whether talks have progressed with any of the above teams…
In any case, he wrapped up his summer vacation a few days ago, which included a trip to Greece, and has joined Girona’s preseason training ahead of the league’s kickoff on Friday, August 14.
According to reports in Spain, developments regarding his situation are expected soon, as he wants to resolve the matter as quickly as possible and focus solely on his performance on the field. Something he cannot do at this stage, as he is effectively on his way out of Girona.
Girona’s Position
The team’s stance on his buyout clause will also play a significant role in the whole situation. The Spanish club has already managed to bring in 20 million from the sales they’ve made so far and wants to reach at least 45 with Ounai’s transfer. However, as the days go by and no club comes forward to pay the Moroccan’s buyout clause, the club will likely… soften its stance, though the price is not expected to drop below 20 million.
*photo source: AP
