Neil El Aynaoui: “I was very impressed by Leipzig”

Three days after his arrival at RB Leipzig, Neil El Aynaoui shared his first impressions in an interview with the club’s media. Loaned by AS Roma for the season with an option to buy, the Moroccan international revealed that joining the Bundesliga was a personal goal: “It has always been a dream for me to play in the Bundesliga.” His initial discussions with the club’s management immediately left a positive impression and reassured him about his choice.

The 25-year-old midfielder also introduced himself to the German supporters. Defining himself as “a hybrid player,” he believes he can occupy several positions in midfield and contribute both offensively and defensively. El Aynaoui also wants to use his running ability to benefit the team. Regarding his number 21, the Moroccan disclosed that he chose it in honor of his younger brother, who was born on August 21.

Before making his decision, El Aynaoui had lengthy discussions with Achraf Hakimi and Ismael Saibari. The two Lions of the Atlas provided him with very positive feedback about the German league and life in Germany. The new Leipzig player acknowledges that their testimonies influenced his choice. He also spent part of his vacation with Saibari in the south of France, where the two players talked a lot about football. Now rivals in the Bundesliga, they have already discussed their future confrontations between Leipzig and Bayern Munich.

Multilingual, El Aynaoui speaks fluent French, Spanish, and English, in addition to having some knowledge of Italian. He now hopes to learn German quickly. The Moroccan also reflected on his admiration for Andrés Iniesta, whom he watched when he lived in Barcelona. He regularly watched his matches and videos to understand his movements and try to replicate certain elements of his game on the field.

Finally, El Aynaoui considers his participation in the 2026 World Cup with Morocco as the greatest achievement of his career. The first match against Brazil particularly impressed him, but he especially remembers the victory on penalties against the Netherlands, described as “something really special.” Happy to open a new chapter in Germany, the Lion of the Atlas now says he is eager to start under his new colors and meet the supporters at the Red Bull Arena.