Abde Ezzalzouli

Abdessamad "Abde" Ezzalzouli (Arabic: عبد الصمد الزلزولي; born 17 December 2001), sometimes known as Ez Abde, is a Moroccan professional footballer who plays as a winger for Spanish team Barcelona B. Born in Morocco and raised in Spain, he represents the Morocco national team at international level. He began his professional career playing for Hércules.

Abde Ezzalzouli
Personal information
Full name Abdessamad Ezzalzouli
Date of birth (2001-12-17) 17 December 2001
Place of birth Beni Mellal, Morocco
Height 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s) Winger
Club information
Current team
 Barcelona B
Number 20
Youth career
2008–2010 Peña Ilicitana Raval
2010–2013 Pablo Iglesias
2013–2014 Kelme
2014–2015 Pablo Iglesias
2015–2016 Promesas Elche
2015–2016 Cultural Carrús
2016–2019 Hércules
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2019–2021 Hércules B 25 (5)
2019–2021 Hércules 21 (2)
2021– Barcelona B 10 (1)
2021– Barcelona 10 (1)
National team
2020 Morocco U20 5 (2)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 02:57, 4 February 2022 (UTC)

Early life

Born in Morocco, Ezzalzouli moved to Spain with his family at the age of seven to live and started his football youth career in the neighborhood of Carrús, in the city of Elche.[1]

Club career

Early career

Ezzalzouli was part of the youth academies for Peña Ilicitana Raval CF, CD Pablo Iglesias, Kelme CF, Promesas Elche CF, and CD Cultural Carrús.[2] He trialled at Elche CF, the main club in his hometown, but was not offered a place in their academy.[3]

Ezzalzouli continued to play for neighbourhood clubs in Elche until Hércules B coach Antonio Moreno Domínguez offered him a contract, and Ezzalzouli subsequently joined the main club in the neighbouring city of Alicante. He moved to Hércules' reserves in 2016, where he began his senior career in 2019.

Barcelona

Ezzalzouli transferred to Barcelona B on 31 August 2021.[4] He made his professional debut with Barcelona in a 1–1 La Liga draw with Alavés on 30 October 2021, coming on as a substitute in the 80th minute. Ezzalzouli thus became the first Moroccan-born player to feature for Barça's first team.[5] He scored his first goal for Barcelona against Osasuna in a 2–2 draw.[6][7]

“Abde’s game is spectacular, and also Nico and Gavi’s. Abde is a differential player. He can make a difference, it is not because of the goal. He is a dagger. A marvel. It is a surprise. It is great news. They are making the difference in a tremendous way. But we all have to demand more from each other.”

—Xavi.[8]

International career

Ezzalzouli represented the Morocco under-20 team at the 2020 Arab Cup U-20, scoring two goals in five games.[9] On 20 December 2021, Abde rejected Vahid Halilhodžić invitation to represent Morocco national football team in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations to focus on his club.[10][11]

On 17 March 2022, Ezzalzouli was listed in the 26 man squad to face DR Congo in the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification – CAF Third Round.[12][13]

Career statistics

Club
As of match played 23 January 2022[14]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup Europe Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Hércules B 2019–20 Tercera División 175———175
2020–21 80———80
Total 255——————255
Hércules 2019–20 Segunda División B 4010——50
2020–21 17200——172
Total 21210——222
Barcelona B 2021–22 Primera División RFEF 101———101
Barcelona 2021–22 La Liga 10110001[lower-alpha 1]0121
Career total 669200010699
  1. Appearance in Supercopa de España

References
  1. "Apuntan a un supuesto interés por Abde". lagradaonline.com. 23 November 2020.
  2. "Abde pone rumbo a La Masía". El Español. 31 August 2021.
  3. "Abde, el niño rebelde que tiene como referente a Neymar". AS.com. 23 November 2020.
  4. "Abde debuta de la mano de Sergi". Mundo Deportivo. 30 October 2021.
  5. "Barcelona vs. Alaves – 30 October 2021". Soccerway.
  6. "Nico and Ez Abde score first goals for FC Barcelona". www.fcbarcelona.com. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
  7. "Moroccan-born EZ Abde scores first goal for Barcelona". Maghreb Magazine. 13 December 2021. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
  8. Heavy, sports. "Xavi Admits He's Surprised By 'Spectacular' Barcelona Teenager". Gill clark. Retrieved 12 December 2021.
  9. "من مواليد بني ملال.. 5 معلومات عن عبد الصمد الزلزولي الذي التحق بكبار برشلونة - هبة سبور".
  10. "2021 AFCON: Barcelona youngster Abde Ezzalzouli rejects Morocco call-up for tournament". Footballghana. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
  11. "Player Refusing AFCON Call Up To Focus On Club Commitments". Flipboard. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
  12. "Abdessamad Ezzalzouli sélectionné avec le Maroc pour le barrage contre la RDC". SOFOOT.com (in French). Retrieved 17 March 2022.
  13. MATIN, Abderrahmane Ichi, LE. "La liste des 26 joueurs de Halihodzic avec Attiah Allah & Ezzalzouli". Le Matin (in French). Retrieved 17 March 2022.
  14. Abde Ezzalzouli at Soccerway
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