Rayane Bounida will have to wait a bit longer before rejoining the professional group at Ajax. Asked after his team’s victory against Burnley (2-1) in a friendly match, coach Míchel provided an update on the situation of the young Moroccan international.
The Spanish coach explained that the 20-year-old attacking midfielder is not yet training with the first team, stating that he must first regain optimal physical condition before rejoining collective training sessions.
“Rayane Bounida is not training with us yet. He must first regain his form. I don’t know how long that will take, but I hope it will be soon,” Míchel said.
No injury issues were mentioned by the Ajax coach. It is primarily a delay in the player’s physical preparation, and he is not yet considered ready to work with the professional group. The club has also not communicated any timeline regarding his return.
Regarded as one of Ajax’s greatest hopes, Bounida comes off a season marked by his first steps with the first team and his decision to represent Morocco on the international stage. The playmaker now hopes to convince Míchel to grant him more playing time at the highest level once he is fully fit.
This update comes as several young talents, such as Abdellah Ouazane, are already taking advantage of the summer preparation to stand out with the first team. Bounida will therefore have to wait a few more days, or even weeks, before joining his teammates and trying to earn his place in the plans of Ajax’s new coach.
