Three games, three starts – and already a major presence in the side: Neil El Aynaoui has settled in quickly at RB Leipzig.
The 25-year-old has only been at the club since the start of September, but our deadline-day signing has wasted no time establishing himself in the team – and showing just how valuable he can be in central midfield.
After Monday morning's training session, Neil reflected on his first few days in Leipzig.
The joy and relief from the 5-0 win over HSV were still clear to see. "I'm not just really happy with the result, but with the team's performance as well," said the Morocco international.
He was particularly pleased with the way the team responded to the defeat in Como: "It was really important for us to show a response."

#leipzig #three #team #aynaoui

Neil El Aynaoui completed a deadline-day move to RB Leipzig, as the club were able to strengthen their midfield with the addition of the 25-year-old.
In his first interview since joining the Red Bulls on loan from AS Roma, the Morocco international spoke about his style of play, famous teammates and his reasons for choosing the number 21.
Welcome to RB Leipzig, Neil. What made you decide to join the Red Bulls?
Neil: "Thank you. It was always a dream of mine to play in the Bundesliga for a big club like RB Leipzig. My initial talks with the club left me with a good feeling and I was very impressed by RBL."
You've chosen the number 21 here. We've heard that there's a special reason behind your decision...

#neil #play #roma #welcome

Roma head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has explained why Roma were able to pinch Marten De Roon from Atalanta in such quick fashion, has commented on the recent arrival of Leonardo Balerdi, but denies that there have been any formal approaches for Matias Soule.
The Giallorossi are having a busy end to the summer transfer window, with De Roon on his way over from Atalanta to reunite with Gasperini, and with the arrival of Balerdi from Marseille. Additionally, Neil El-Aynaoui looks set to join RB Leipzig, Soule has been linked with a move to the Premier League, while Gasp says that he still wants another two additions before the close of the summer transfer window on September 1.
Official: Leonardo Belardi holds up his Roma shirt after joining the club on loan with an option to buy from Marseille (via www.asroma.com)
Gasperini had an opportunity to discuss Roma's transfer business during his pre-match press conference on Sunday, ahead of his side's upcoming league clash away against Lecce on Monday evening.
"It was something that came about quickly," said Gasperini, discussing Roma's deal for long-term Atalanta servant De Roon.

#roon #transfer #marseille #league

Neil El Aynaoui's future continues to be a hot topic in the final days of the Roma transfer window.
Following Crystal Palace's interest, Bayer Leverkusen has reportedly also made an interest in the Moroccan midfielder.
According to Nicolò Schira's report, both the English and German clubs have expressed interest in the 2001-born player.
At this time, these are merely inquiries, and no official offer has been made for the Giallorossi player.
Crystal Palace had already inquired about El Aynaoui in recent days, so his name remains under review ahead of the transfer window closing.

#crystal #neil

Neil El Aynaoui remains on the list of players who could leave the capital in the final days of the transfer window.
The Moroccan midfielder isn't Gasperini's first choice, with Koné and Cristante starting in midfield with Pisilli as the first substitution.
Against Fiorentina, the manager changed his mind at the last minute and brought on the former Lens player alongside the Giallorossi number 61, who, however, had a different impact on the match, also scoring the 4-0 goal.
At the moment, no concrete offers have been received for El Aynaoui at Trigoria.
Crystal Palace have made an exploratory inquiry without taking any further action. Saudi Arabia, on the other hand, is not interested in the player. This situation is also linked to the Kessié affair.

#first #cristante #lens

Juventus are continuing to trim fat, but it's still not enough to finally table their offer for Frank Kessié, and Roma have entered the race, joining Al-Ittihad and other Saudi sides that would cover him in gold to keep him in their league, La Gazzetta dello Sport informs.
After releasing Arthur Melo, the Bianconeri will bid farewell to Fabio Miretti. He'll move to Besiktas, like Dusan Vlahovic, on a loan with a conditional obligation to buy. The Old Lady also completed Michele Di Gregorio's exit and Kamil Grabara's arrival, with a temporary formula with a €12M acquisition clause. Instead, Mattia Perin transferred to Palermo on a €500k move.
On the other hand, the recent departures don't suffice yet for Juventus to really step up their Kessié pursuit. They have to find a solution for the burdensome Teun Koopmeiners, Jonathan David, and Nicolas Gonzalez. Juan Cabal and Arkadiusz Milik are also on the chopping block.
In the meantime, Roma have shown some interest in the Ivorian powerhouse, who broke out under Gian Piero Gasperini at Atalanta. They have skirted the Manchester United threat for Manu Koné, as the Red Devils completed their midfield with Carlos Baleba. Other sides could be keen on him, but Neil El Aynaoui is a more precarious spot now.
They shouldn't waste any more time and should sign him in after managing to have a hold on him for so long, and worry about the departures later. Koopmeiners is the main Gordian knot, but there may also be issues with his personal terms. It's been a while since the capital club signed a veteran with bloated wages, even though Gasperini surely wouldn't mind.

#frank

Andy MattioliEdit Profile
For the match against Fiorentina the only certain change on the right is Molina, who immediately becomes the new master of the right flank.
On the other side, reports Il Messaggero, **** e will be given to Wesley, who has overcome a slight sprain in his right ankle.
Gasperini's big doubt is the attacking midfielder. A spot for three. Cristante could slot in between Soulé and Mora, having already played in that position several times last season in the 3-4-1-2 formation, with excellent results. With Bryan up front, one between El Aynaoui and Pisilli will accompany Koné in midfield.
With Cristante further back, the toss-up will be between Soulé and Mora. Rodrigo, who arrived on Monday evening and is eager to conquer the world. There are still a few more hours to clear up any remaining doubts.

#right #soul #mora #messaggero

Star player
Achraf Hakimi is, without a doubt, the biggest star Moroccan football has known. If Larbi Ben Barek, Noureddine Naybet and Yassine Bounou have all enjoyed the love and respect of football fans, Hakimi is on a whole other level of stardom. He's been consistent and successful among the very best teams of world football. After starting his career at Real Madrid, he has represented Borussia Dortmund, Inter and Paris St-Germain, where he won the Champions League for a first time in 2025. "I don't know if Luis Enrique changed my career," he said. "But his arrival has changed how the world of football sees me." In February it was announced that he will face trial after an allegation of rape was made against him. He vehemently denies the accusation.
One to watch
He only became a Moroccan international in September 2025 but Neil El Aynaoui is already considered one of the Atlas Lions' best players. Son of Moroccan tennis legend, Younes El Ayanoui, Neil is a multifunctional midfielder, very tough in recovering the ball and keen to join in the attacks. After a convincing stint at Lens, he joined Roma last summer and, despite the fans' initial scepticism and few appearances at the start of the season, the midfielder became an important player to Gian Piero Gasperini. If Morocco are to be successful in North America El Aynaoui will be an important piece of the jigsaw.
Unsung hero

Liverpool could be set to shake up their midfield options this summer.
Alexis Mac Allister has reportedly been a target for Real Madrid in recent months while Curtis Jones has slipped into the last 12 months of his deal.
If Andoni Iraola loses one - or both - of those midfielders then we can expect to see the outgoing Premier League champions delve into the transfer market for a new option.
Among the names mentioned as a potential incoming deal is Neil El Aynaoui.
The 25-year-old Morocco international has enjoyed a stellar FIFA World Cup as a key player for the Atlas Lions. That is in stark contrast to his club situation - where he has been a bit-part player at best for Roma in Serie A.

Neil El Aynaoui is making a name for himself for Morocco during the World Cup in the United States.
The performances of the midfielder, who arrived in Rome last summer, have attracted the attention of several international scouts, particularly from the Premier League.
According to TEAMtalk, Manchester United and Liverpool have included the 2001-born player among their prospects for the upcoming transfer window.
The two English clubs have reportedly been impressed by the midfielder’s performances, a result of a very convincing campaign thus far.
The interest, however, is not limited to the two English giants. In fact, reports from England indicate that intermediaries have also initiated exploratory discussions with Chelsea, Aston Villa, Brighton, Bournemouth, Newcastle United, Sunderland, and Everton to ******* s the player’s situation.

Canada and Morocco go head-to-head at NRG Stadium this Saturday in the World Cup.
In their last match, Canada prevailed 0-1 against South Africa (World Cup 2026). In their last outing, Morocco drew 1-1 against Netherlands (World Cup 2026).
The last meeting between the two teams ended with Morocco winning 2-1.
Canada ( vs South Africa 2026-06-28): Maxime Crépeau, Alistair Johnston, Derek Cornelius, Moïse Bombito, Richie Laryea, Tajon Buchanan, Nathan Saliba, Stephen Eustáquio, Liam Millar, Jonathan David, Tani Oluwaseyi
Morocco ( vs Netherlands 2026-06-30): Yassine Bono, Achraf Hakimi, Issa Diop, Chadi Riad, Noussair Mazraoui, Neil El Aynaoui, Ayyoub Bouaddi, Brahim Díaz, Azzedine Ounahi, Bilal El Khannouss, Ismael Saibari

Which midfielders Manchester United will sign to give Michael Carrick a strong engine room he can rely on next season remains a mystery.
With Casemiro’s departure and Manuel Ugarte‘s long-term injury, the Red Devils need at least two, if not three, quality midfield signings.
Ederson has already signed, with all eyes now on who will join the Brazilian international through the door.
In an ideal scenario, it should have been Elliot Anderson and Mateus Fernandes. However, both players have sealed moves to rival clubs. United must now pivot and identify fresh targets.
One name gaining serious traction is AS Roma box-to-box midfielder Neil El Aynaoui. Teamtalk reports that it would come as little surprise to the Old Trafford faithful if the club pursued the Moroccan “workhorse”.

Morocco have reached the World Cup last 16 after a dramatic 3-2 win on penalties against the Netherlands on Monday following a 1-1 draw.
Ismael Saibari scored the decisive goal as he fired into the bottom left corner, while goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen went the wrong way.
Morocco will now face co-hosts Canada on Saturday in Houston for a spot in the quarter-finals.
Saibari was just the right man to complete the task after he scored one goal in each of the three matches in the group stage.
It was a nervy shoot-out with Neil El Aynaoui missing Morocco's first spot-kick after Teun Koopmeiners had given Netherlands the lead.

Mehdi Benatia has expressed his surprise at the limited game time Neil El Aynaoui has been afforded at Roma, while revealing he tried to bring the midfielder to Marseille before the Giallorossi stepped in.
The former Roma defender, who is now sporting director at Olympique Marseille, was speaking to La Gazzetta dello Sport in a wide-ranging interview that touched on Italian football and his old club.
He reserved warm words for his compatriot.
“He’s very strong because he combines quality and quantity,” Benatia said of El Aynaoui, with quotes via TuttoMercatoWeb.
“I didn’t understand why he played less at Roma than I would have expected. I had tried to sign him for my Marseille, but he cost too much.”

Neil El Aynaoui’s father, Younes, admits his son ‘would be the happiest person in the world’ if he could join Barcelona one day: ‘He lived there until he was 11.’
Roma midfielder El Aynaoui dreams of a move to Barcelona, his father Younes told Mundo Deportivo.
“My son is a Barcelona fan; he lived there until he was 11 years old,” El Aynaoui’s father said.
“He would be the happiest person in the world if he could play there one day.”
BOLOGNA, ITALY – APRIL 25: Neil El Aynaoui of AS Roma celebrates after scoring his team’s second goal with his teammate Donyell Malen during the Serie A match between Bologna FC 1909 and AS Roma at Renato Dall’Ara Stadium on April 25, 2026 in Bologna, Italy. (Photo by Emmanuele Ciancaglini/Getty Images)

Referee Ilgiz Tantashev told John McGinn he turned down his claim for a penalty against Morocco because the ball was going out of play as he was challenged by Neil El Aynaoui, the Scotland midfielder's brother, Stephen, has revealed.
Scott McTominay also claimed for penalty under a challenge from midfielder El Aynaoui as Scotland suffered a 1-0 defeat in Boston, but it was his brother's claim that the Falkirk first-team coach thought had more credibility.
"The McTominay one, my gut reaction was he was playing for it," McGinn told BBC Radio Scotland's Sportsound.
Boston bounce sends Scotland to Miami with hope and no fear
Flawed but relentless Scotland show themselves as men of substance

There has been an unrepentant joy about much of Scotland's World Cup thus far, but the nation previously glad simply to be back on this stage will go to bed nursing a fresh grievance.
Twice in the second half in Foxborough, Steve Clarke's men were denied penalties that looked very strong claims. The Uzbek referee Ilgiz Tantashev and his VAR team saw no reason for further action for the contact in question – first with John McGinn and later Scott McTominay when it was all on the line for Scotland.
Both times it was the Roma midfielder Neil El Aynaoui who was in the frame. The son of the former Moroccan tennis pro Younes, he had a fine game but he certainly rode his luck. At the beginning of the first half El Aynaoui leaned across McGinn in the right channel of the Morocco area and sent the Scotland No 7 off balance. Later El Aynaoui would appear to catch the toe of McTominay – subtle but telling as the Scot slipped into the area.
For Scotland, whose evening had begun disastrously with a goal conceded on 70 seconds, these were crucial decisions. They go into their final game against Brazil on Wednesday in Miami with their knockout place in the balance. They have lost to the team ranked fifth in the world by Fifa, the African champions on a recount, which was the outcome that most expected. Yet Scotland will wonder if it could have been better for them.
They conceded so soon into the game to the PSV Eindhoven striker Ismael Saibari, who scored in the first game against Brazil – and it took some time for Scotland to find their feet. Generally, Morocco controlled possession with greater finesse. Scotland tended to give it back to them far too quickly. By the end Scotland had not managed a single attempt on the Morocco goal. Ben Gannon-Doak's second-half substitute's cameo had given them momentum.

Scotland were enraged not to receive a late penalty in their World Cup defeat to Morocco though pundits could not agree on whether the decision was a correct one.
In the 82nd minute, Scott McTominay went down under the challenge of Neil El Aynaoui, who stuck out a leg and tripped up the Scot as he carried the ball into the box, with Morocco leading 1-0.
Replays showed that the Morocco midfielder did not make contact with the ball and only nicked the man, with ITV's referee specialist Christina Unkel admitting that she thought the initial decision was incorrect, though not to a degree where VAR would overturn it and award a penalty.
It was the third Scotland penalty appeal of the game but by far the most vocal one, with McTominay continually pleading with referee Igliz Tantashev as play moved down the other end.
The denial would prove crucial as Morocco went on to hold onto their one-goal lead to win their first game of the World Cup, leaping above Scotland in the Group C standings and leaving them in a potentially precarious position going into their final group game against Brazil.

Group C action at the 2026 World Cup will continue with Morocco facing Scotland at Gillette Stadium. The Atlas Lions won plaudits for their performance in the draw against record winners Brazil, while Scotland sit at the top of the group after their scrappy win over Haiti.
Ismael Saibari, who is very close to completing his move to FC Bayern from PSV, starts once again after scoring Morocco’s goal against Brazil. Stuttgart’s winger Bilal El Khannouss is also in Morocco's unchanged lineup as Eintracht Frankfurt’s Ayoube Amaimouni hopes for another chance from the bench after his competitive debut last week.
Scotland: Gunn; Patterson, Tierney, Hanley, Hendry, Robertson ©; McTominay, Ferguson, McGinn; Christie, Adams
Morocco: Bono; Hakimi ©, Diop, Riad, Mazraoui; El Aynaoui, Bouaddi; Brahim Diaz, Ounahi, El Khannouss; Saibari

Scotland and Morocco face each other this Friday at the Gillette Stadium of the World Cup. The match will be broadcast live at 23:00 on ITV 1.
In their last game, Scotland won 0-1 against Haiti (World Cup 2026). In their last outing, Morocco drew 1-1 against Brazil (World Cup 2026).
Scotland ( vs Haiti 2026-06-14): Angus Gunn, Aaron Hickey, Jack Hendry, Grant Hanley, Andy Robertson, Ben Gannon-Doak, Lewis Ferguson, Scott McTominay, John McGinn, Che Adams, Lawrence Shankland
Morocco ( vs Brazil 2026-06-13): Yassine Bono, Achraf Hakimi, Issa Diop, Chadi Riad, Noussair Mazraoui, Neil El Aynaoui, Ayyoub Bouaddi, Brahim Díaz, Bilal El Khannouss, Azzedine Ounahi, Ismael Saibari