Souffian El Karouani had a busy weekend with FC Utrecht following the cancellation of his planned transfer to Spartak Moscow. Despite rumors of a multi-million contract, the Moroccan left-back stayed focused, starting and playing the full match in his team’s 2-0 victory over PEC Zwolle.
El Karouani showcased his full influence by setting up Derry Murkin’s 44th-minute goal, bringing his total assists this season to eight. He earned praise from coach Ron Jans: “He handles every situation perfectly and stays focused on the pitch. I’m very proud of him and his family. The decision not to go to Russia was a moral one, and he accepted it calmly.”
Despite the financial loss from the cancelled transfer, El Karouani remains optimistic about his future and does not rule out the possibility of a move before the transfer window closes: “We’ll see in the next two days. Maybe I stay, maybe I take a step forward.”
The left-back also showed great chemistry with Derry Murkin on the left flank, creating an effective partnership that contributed to the team’s victory: “The collaboration is going very well. He has an excellent strike and knows perfectly how to cover my position,” he said.
