Nearly a year after his failed transfer to Real Madrid, Abdellah Ouazane has candidly reflected on this significant episode in his young career. In a video published by Ajax Amsterdam, the 17-year-old Moroccan midfielder explained that this experience, as disappointing as it was, allowed him to better understand the inner workings of professional football.
“It’s disappointing. A lot happened, but on the other hand, I learned a lot about how football works. I learned a lot from this experience about everything that can happen around a transfer in the span of 24 hours,” the young Lion of the Atlas confided.
In the summer of 2025, Ouazane was very close to joining Real Madrid after his contract with Ajax ended. The deal was ultimately canceled at the last moment following a medical examination. A few days later, new tests conducted in the Netherlands cleared up the doubts, paving the way for his return to Amsterdam, where he signed until June 2028.
In hindsight, the Moroccan believes that returning to Ajax was the best decision for his continued development. “It helped me return to Ajax, which was the best thing to do at that moment. I am very grateful to have had my chance with the first team and I look forward to seeing what the future holds for me,” he added.
This experience has not diminished his ambitions. Considered one of the greatest hopes of Moroccan football, Abdellah Ouazane continues his development with Ajax, where he has already been introduced to the professional squad. Named the best player of the U17 Africa Cup of Nations won by Morocco in 2025, he continues to confirm all the potential attributed to him.
Very attached to Morocco, the young midfielder has never hidden the pride he feels in representing the colors of the Lionceaux de l’Atlas. In a previous interview, he explained his international choice with conviction: “Fortunately, I chose Morocco because I am Moroccan. My father and mother are from Morocco, and my older brother also plays for Morocco.” Alongside his brother Zakaria, who was also trained at Ajax, Abdellah Ouazane has a clear ambition for the future: to contribute sustainably to the development of the Moroccan national team and to establish himself among the faces of the new generation of Lions of the Atlas.
